Tobster - that's a perfectly adequate question, for 90% of VFR flying you'll most likely be needing no more than a listening squawk, or a Basic Service. If things get marginal VFR, you may consider a traffic, but it won't be until you get your IR(r) or IR until you may have the necessity to use anything else. The leaflet is pretty clear.
Pegasus912, I am not sure the posts were condescending towards Tobster, but perhaps a statement that the instructor, CFI and examiner seem to have missed a part of the training which may have been useful to cover and hence his/her amazement to this fact. (yes there a lot of terrible instructors out there)
And people wonder why there is so little take up of new pilots
Uptake could be slow because people don't understand that they can afford flying if they gave up drinking as much alcohol and frequently going out to extortionate clubs... It may also be slower because nowadays, you can just get a £60-80 orange plane return to most places in the EU (if you buy in advance) and people prefer to go away relaxing rather than working hard to get their licence for over a year... It may be slower because the younger generation seems to be earning the same as the older generation were 30 years ago for the same job, despite the cost of living having increased so dramatically. It may also be slower because a lot of us work so darn hard every week, 6 or even 7 days a week, that some simply don't have the will or energy to spend time studying and wasting time (and money, ie renting a car...etc...) waiting for the skies to clear up enough to actually take to the skies....