FA
Not sure I understand your last post. Was it the local 'plod' who showed you the pile of forms or the airfield ? If it was the airfield then surely plod or customs would have looked at the faxed copies they received - if the airfield want to keep hard copies that's up to them.
I agree with you about the internet based GAR. Surely in this day and age this has to be the easiest option for all involved.