There should be nothing at all scary about my previous observations. They won the appeal. They are allowed to keep PR status. They can apply for and should be issued new PR cards. They can stay and live in Canada. Should be NOTHING SCARY about that at all.
My other observations were little more than a reminder that just like every other PR they will still need to comply with the PR Residency Obligation going forward. And actually they have something of an advantage over many other PRs.
Other PRs must meet the RO based strictly on counting the number of days IN Canada during the preceding five years, and if that number is less than 730, they are in breach and at risk for decisions terminating their PR status. If they leave Canada, and upon returning to Canada a PoE officer takes notice they have not been in Canada at least 730 days within the previous five years, there is a risk the officer will proceed with a RO examination and the PR is at risk for being reported and losing PR status.
Technically that remains true for your family. Just like every other PR they need to comply with the RO. And that means, going forward, they need to stay in compliance with the RO, they need to spend at least 730 days in Canada within the previous five years.
But given the successful appeal they have significant advantages other PRs do not have.
-- They can apply for and be issued PR cards DESPITE not having been IN Canada at least 730 days within the previous five years
-- And even if they travel abroad and are not yet in compliance with the RO based on having been IN Canada at least 730 days within the previous five years, upon their return to Canada they will get a significant amount of leeway given the formal IAD H&C decision
A pretty sweet deal.
I am guessing that what you found scary is that it will be risky for them to travel outside Canada for any extended period of time UNTIL they are in compliance with the RO based on being IN Canada at least 730 days within the previous five years.
In this regard it warrants emphasizing that they have been allowed to keep PR status DESPITE failing to comply with the Residency Obligation. AND THIS WAS SO THEY CAN SETTLE and PERMANENTLY RESIDE in Canada. They have, in effect, been given another chance to settle PERMANENTLY in Canada because the IAD concluded their circumstances were compelling enough to overlook their failure to settle in Canada sooner.
They can travel, as in take trips. To be cautious, better to FIRST be actually settled into a permanent home in Canada. At the least. Meaning staying here long enough for it to be clear they are PERMANENTLY living in Canada.
And then to avoid travel abroad for any extended period of time UNTIL they have been IN Canada at least 730 days within the previous five years. (Again, just like any other PR.)
Side note: There appears to be some tendency to underestimate the import of the term "PERMANENT," and more than a few PRs seem to think that the term "PERMANENT" somehow means something not-so-permanent. The lenient, oft described as rather generously lenient Residency Obligation, is NOT intended to be contrary to the explicit purpose of the grant of PR status: so that the individual granted that status can settle PERMANENTLY in Canada.