I'm right in thinking that you can take as long as you want on distance learning before you take that first exam arn't I (and then the clock starts for you to finish them)? I so then why not just buy the course books, etc, read them all through until you know them quite well and have quite a few hours (like EGCC4284 said) and then take them.
Thats what I'm planning. Finish PPL, buy ATLP books, get 100ish hours, take exams, take CPL, take IR, get FIR, get married, have kids, retire and die.
P.S. my flight instructor (and the school) say that the hours prior to taking CPL is 200 not 150. Any reason why this could be as I thought it was 150.