Jose wrote:
ATC was telling you to fly the (off-airway) heading that takes you
to FARAN (even though it was left to you, or your equipment, to
compute the numerical value of that heading).

Then it's not a vector.

Correct. A vector is defined in the PCG as, "a heading issued to an
aircraft to provide navigational guidance by radar". Unfortunately,
there is no PCG defintion of "heading", so we need to fall back on the
conventional definition of "put this number at the top of your DG and
keep it there".

The problem is, it's obvious to everybody (i.e. to both ATC and to
pilots) that "direct FARAN, cleared approach" is a completely
reasonable, flyable, safe, and convenient clearance to issue to a /G
aircraft under radar surveillance. The fact that it's also against
the rules just points out how silly the rules are.