He could have but actually a Class 1 medical is a good move, because once you get through the initial, you have locked the option of Demonstrated Ability in, for the rest of your life.
So long as you renew the C1 within the maximum time, which (depending on how you read the JAA regs) is 1 year or 4.99 years. If you leave it longer, they can strip off that privilege and make you do a fresh initial C1.
I would recommend every pilot to get a C1 and keep renewing it, just often enough.