I did my CPL training in New Zealand and did the conversion to the JAA writing the ATPL theory and to be honest, yeah there is a lot of pointless information but eventhough it's difficult to decide what you need to know and what you don't, none of the pointless stuff is tested.
The only difference b/w the JAA exams and say NZ or CASA is one the amount of exams - 14 in total and the amount of information, however I would say the testing isn't any different as far as difficulty. If you find the some to be really tough and find yourself moaning about all the information you have to sort through then flying may not be the profession for you - it's all worth the time in the end.
As far as doing the course via a distance learning is good idea but keep in mind, you have to do 4 weeks of in class work - 2 weeks for each module with the school who applies to the local authority where you intend to write the exams ie. if you write the exams in Ireland, the school must apply to the IAA for you to sit the exams and the only way schools will apply to have you sit the exams is that you must do the consolidation courses with them.
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