Whereas if you hold a UK ATPL, you never need to revalidate your IMC privileges.
Typical tin people-tube:
LHS pilot: UK ATPL issued 30 years ago. Last flew SPA 30 years ago. Decides to take up recreational SEP flying - does not need IMC Rating test.
RHS pilot: JAA ATPL issued last week. Last flew SPA 2 hours ago. Last SPA IR expired 13 months ago - must fly IMC Rating revalidation, costs around £250.
Which for a poor, hard-up B757 driver is obviously not easy.
But where's the logic?