Global TM,
You're not quite right regarding the UK/JAR situation. Only a person who has a min of 3000 hours with a min of 1500 hours TT in command (not FO time) of an aircraft of plus 30 tonnes in primarily international ops or similar can do the abbreviated conversion. (ref LASORS Section G G1.5 Note 2) This will get you a (JAR) UK ATPL only. This cannot (at this time) be used to fly any thing other than G-reg aircraft (without specific national permission) (ref LASORS Section G G1.5 Note 1) Both are on page 295.
If the candidate for a JAR ATPL has 4000 hours FO time on eg a 737 in Australia, tough luck, they have to do the full 14 exams.