I truly do understand your frustration, but lets face it, you are better off taking a few months to study and sit these exams. They are realy not that much different from the FAA ones.
I'm also going to have to disagree with you on this one. If you are going to take the FAA ATP written exam all you need is $70 for a CD that gives you all the questions and all the answers. You study hard over a weekend and take the exam on Monday.
I'm not sure what the going rate is for taking the FAA exam is ($90 would be my guess), but I'm pretty sure it's a less than the JAA exam. I was quoted NOK7000 last summer for the JAA. Not to mention the 14 books and the fact that self study is not recommended. If you do a study course through a school the total price in NOK will probably be around 40000.
Not only is it frustrating, but I feel I've paid enough to get were I am at the moment and now all that knowledge and experience I have accumulated is next to worthless.
You are right in one thing though: Put up or shut up! It is what it is and if you are planning to get a JAA certificate this is what it takes. I am glad to see that at least the two agencies are at least talking about changing the current system.