I just did two flights starting cold at the gate and the navlogs were populated with waypoints but I know it always was a sporadic problem. I say use whatever workaround is good for you and just assume the problem will never be solved completely.
At least for the stock A320 I haven’t used the navlog in months in favor of the MCDU, ND and panel clock. I can see every waypoint and its ETA (in the MCDU) and the distance to the next waypoint (in the ND).
Those route details in the MDCU and ND are enough for a mid-flight check on fuel for relatively long-haul flights. I compare {[total distance to destination in MCDU - next way point distance in MCDU + next waypoint distance in ND] / current ground speed in ND} with [fuel on board in ECAM / fuel flow in ECAM]. I’ve had fun doing a few unrealistic ~4400 NM flights in the A320 (Honolulu to Sydney, New York to Santiago Chile, etc.) and I figured mid-flight the plane would make it without refueling from the route info in the MCDU and ND.