In Exif there are separate tags for whether North or South (for Latitude) or East or West (for Longitude). Same with altitude (yes it can be negative). The degree values are always a positive (absolute value) number, actually 3 rationals (x/y) for degrees, minutes and seconds. Very wonky. GPS in XMP is more plain and simple text.
That's basically where my original question came from; I didn't think there was much opportunity for ambiguity in the exif data but perhaps there was in the xmp data.
For completeness, I am running PM+ V6 build 5446 on Windows 10.
I have attached a representative jpeg, the xmp file for its associated raw (orf) file, a screenshot showing where PM thinks the photo was taken and a screenshot showing where flickr thinks it was taken.
The jpeg was produced as follows: I used RawThereapee to develop the raw file (an orf) into a jpeg. The xmp data was added to the jpeg by PM (a combination of tools/update iptc/xmp ... (from raw) followed by some specific edits). The gps data was added via a gpx file and file/import gps coordinates.
PM shows the location correctly. Flickr has me in in Kazakhstan.