Hi BOAC:
I think you raise a good question; "Should we be reviewing the way we 'fudge' the requirement to get the all-important 'tick in the box'?"
And the way I'd answer would be to ask 1) what is it the pilot will be expected to do on a cold, dark, and stormy night; 2) when something goes dreadfully wrong, who is it who is going to pay the ulitmate price, and 3) who is going to have to "pay-the-cheque" when the law suits start appearing? - and you know they will...