You're right. The act as it was before did allow for anyone who was in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident to count that time. It didn't stipulate whether it had to be lawful residence or not.
The change here does reinstate the ability to have non-permanent residence time, but it does stipulate that it's time as a temporary resident or as a protected person.
As was explained earlier, an individual who is an asylum claimant and is then successful becomes a protected person, and they can then count that time towards their citizenship credit once they become a permanent resident and apply for citizenship. They still do benefit.