The FARs are just a point of reference. Since the Americans invented flying, I suppose they might have a point, that is all.
True, with the new flight time limitations scam at EK, probably nobody will exeed the limits. However, if you guys in the UK and various other regulations allow for that kid of scam,i.e., only "stick time" counted toward flight time limitations, well, I can not see the civilised side of that! By the way, do you then not log the times you get up to go to the toilet during flight?? That in principle would really make for a complicated formula...
Later