In an AQP environment the left seat approach and taxi is the extra requirement, but keep in mind this is not aimed at the AQP airlines.
This new requirements is aimed at bottom feeder type carriers. At those carriers many FO's repeat the same item with constant coaching to get to PTS, and then they get passed. Putting a type requirement on all co-pilots raises the bar on the mix standards required for this seat. Adding the other type of "books" study requires a little more. It gets closer to the JAA requirements.
Like I said on another thread, I hope this give us reciprocity with the JAA for our licenses.