Dita's Slot Meter wrote:When I had to send my paper one off for a few points last year, I was expecting to be told to get myself a photo licence.....Fortunately, I didn't have to and just got my paper licence sent back with no hassle....

Stick with it as long as you can. I understand that it's only a name or address change that necessitates a switch to the two-part licence.
I decided to replace mine last year, after time it was literally falling to pieces and I'd also changed address six years earlier. The fannying around involved in replacing it almost made me want to move back to my previous address. For some reason the DVLA require far more information than the Passport Office (my passport had also expired three years previously). The simplest way was to get a new passport and then use the stored passport photograph to obtain my replacement driving licence.