[Crash one]

I'm surprised that student pilots are talking about SkyDemon, iPads, and the like during training.

Whilst I agree that the PPL course should include a thorough understanding of the basics of "manual' navigation, the correct use of GNSS (GPS to you and me) is a required part of the PPL(A) syllabus and has been for a decade. Panel mount and handheld devices are both acceptable.

I passed my GFT a decade ago and shortly after that your paragraph above was expressed, certainly at my school, the other way round, as:-
Basic use of GPS should be included in the syllabus but only after a thorough understanding (not just the basics) of chart, compass, stopwatch methods.
SkyDemon was a new thing at that time if I remember right.

[Nick T]

I'm surprised that student pilots are talking about SkyDemon, iPads, and the like during training.

I passed my test in August. Never touched an iPad or Skydemon etc. whilst training.