We only get breaks for exams that have listening-sections. For German, Irish and (obviously) Music, there's aural parts, so for the first two you get a break because you have to move to another exam centre, and for Music.. It's pretty much the same as the first two, really :D
You are a doctor, after all :D
Funnliy enough, I'm one who's not totally against including previous protagonists, provided it's executed well :3
Not to speak ill of Light Platinum, but I disagree with how WesleyFG used characters like Gold, Red, Diamond, etc. Randomly battling a talkative Red at the second Gym is.. Just plain wrong, IMO.