I agree on the medical point...if a self certified, GP counter-signed medical is alright for the NPPL then it should also be ok for GA JAA. I had the JAR medical, got hooked up to an ECG, gave a blood sample, peak flow etc etc...Also had the FAA class 3 medical....hop on one leg 20 times, yep your heart is ok ! Again it seems the FAA have got it right and don't blow everything out of proportion. Having a 3 level medical is a good idea, after all, transporting boxes of cornflakes as a CPL is going to do no more damage if I keel over with a heart attack than if I am flying for fun and keel over.
Incidentally it is funny that if you instruct with a JAA PPL FI rating you only need a class 2 medical, but to instruct with a CPL FI you need a class 1 ! Hmmm...another one to add to the farce list !