So to add to the confusion presumably the French will validate your JAA / CAA license for a JAA / French license granting you the full priviliges of a JAA / French license.
I guess you can then fly French aircraft applying their VFR ANO rules - but G reg. aircraft?
Strange in all this that it is the same pilot, same training, same experience, same aircraft, same community, but different rules.
I suppose it is a sort of opt in, opt out.