The massive flaw with the EASA system is that they assume because you pass a written test you can remember it all.
Imagine you take Air law as your first exam, and take your last exam 18 months later. You now have 3 years to pass your CPL and IR. And then 7 years Minimum to pass ATPL. That's 10½ years! And they assume you know everything because you passed a written test 10½ years ago? The FAA may have a piss-easy written test, but every flight test has an oral element. Fail that and you don't even go flying...