This allows tests to use these functions on a different platform instance
then on the singleton. The change makes the argument list longer, which is
unfortunate. On the other hand, it makes those functions more useful
in general.

You can't have it all.

Also, they now follow the pattern of most functions in NM where the type
is a singleton: you always pass the singleton to the function, although
in the usual case there is only one singleton instance. This allows to
use the function also on the non-singleton instance.