Hello Mark,
If you ask me it should be allowed to use PI space for clients (and give clients the option to use/maintain more than a /30 (IPv4)).
PI policy explicitly states that PI space can not be re-assigned or further assigned to other parties. See http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-471.html#9 . Any organisation that needs address space for its customers must use PA space. The definition of an LIR is that it assigns address space to its customers. PI space is (per definition) only to be used by the company that requested it itself.
It is also in my opinion not to RIPE (community or the NCC) to ask that information. The should ask for general usage, how much would be used for clients for example. How many clients a company has shouldn't be important to get PI.
In this case it doesn't matter. That the company needs address space for *any* customers indicates that PI space is not appropriate and PA space should be used. The company uses address space for customers and therefore must become an LIR. I think it is now time to stop this discussion, at least on the address policy mailing list. This discussion is not leading to a viable policy proposal. Thanks, Sander Steffann APWG co-chair