To me the argument is very simple.
I instruct both FAA and JAA Commercial. I'm guessing you did your CPL in the US and have little UK flying / IR experience.
If you instruct at Oxford Aviation then I totally understand where your coming from regarding the JAA CPL. Unfortunately I group FAA CPL and Oxford graduates in the same skill set - from plenty of previous experience.
When someone sends me a FAA > JAA CPL Conversion who is of more than below average ability, I'll let you know
As stated I've seen more often than not 15 hour conversion, and a couple of times more than 25 hours!!! (That's more than the full course!)
The skills of these pilots at both CPL and IR level speak for themselves. The is zero point in discussing the course content and PTS, doc 3 etc.
There is no further discussion beyond the skill level output, and if it were of a high enough standard there would be no conversions required to the JAA. You even stated the FAA courses are not universally accepted!
DPEs do undergo yearly standardisation, this is true, I just think all they standardise is their pay checks.
PS - Let me know when your passengers ask you to do 8s on Pylons.
