My only point was why does it take the best part of a year and £1000 to gain some IR exams?
It does not, that is just your perception gleaned no doubt from the usual rumour and misrepresentation that fill these boards on the FAA v JAA debate.
When I finally got around to doing my exam study I did it in 2 months over 2 exam sittings with a high 90's pass. I also know of a poster on here who did it in a couple of weeks and a single exam sitting. I also did not pay the magic grand you are quoting in fact I did not even pay that much for doing the IR and the CPL exams. I do agree that the CAA fee for sitting the exam is inexcusable but that has nothing to do with the difficulty of doing the JAA IR. If you are trying to make it about direct costs, maybe it is cheaper to get an FAA if you go to the US if you turn a blind eye to the cost of flights, accommodation, food, beer and all the other stuff that goes with it. Doing one in Europe is certainly not cheaper and the breathtaking charges made by European DPE's leave the CAA flight test in the shade.
The debate will no doubt go on for ever as those who have chosen one route over another will always defend it as being the best.