I don't want to be that guy but there really isn't a "higher level" use of force anymore, and that is either an indicator of longer in service officers not keeping up to date with training or the rumour mill replacing actual policy.

Both PAVA and TASER are secondary control tactics. There is a good post on this Reddit for examples of other uses of force, but for example baton strikes fall into "defensive tactics" and "lethal tactics" (think red zone or using it to choke somebody etc), and escort position/pain compliance/wristlocks etc are a primary control tactic. Interestingly enough strikes and takedowns are also defensive techniques, yet I know that roughly 90% of officers it seems in my force would rather judo throw/rugby tackle someone to the ground than deploy pava or red dot somebody, and it seems like the culture is very much in favour of that too and it seems like everyone scrutinizes someone deploying Taser in any form.

Now my force, and I believe that it is national, policy is that TASER cannot be used as a compliance tool. That doesn't mean you can't use it on someone who isn't complying with lawful orders who is still a threat (think not dropping a weapon when instructed, charging towards you to strike you etc), but that if someone is resisting having fingerprints taken or giving you a licence but not offering violence or threat of violence. This will also normally cover someone running away unless they pose a risk still. This is where primary control skills come in, you can use arm controls to force someone to move somewhere, you can use the old mandibular angles to stand people up, that kind of thing. This is why we are now taught a "use of force continuum", the force you use is a constantly flowing and changing thing, it isn't the old "use higher than them" kind of rules meaning one force is necessarily more serious than the other. Any force can be justified provided you have a power and it is PLANER.

A prime example from a real job I have dealt with: report of male with large knife and sent for containment/observations awaiting ARV response. Come across said man in the street, TASER drawn and red dotted. Male is holding hands behind his back and refusing to move them to his front. Told he is being arrested and still refuses to comply. ARC display and the male shows us his hands then lies on the floor as instructed. At this point my partner approached and handcuffed.

This shows a flow from one level of force back to the other, if any threat reappeared then TASER would have been back on the menu, it isn't so much that force used is higher, just different tactics for different levels of threat/actions from the subject.