Well, thank you 'lpokijuhyt' for your reply...I appreciate the honesty. And believe me, I am bitter too - I am converting my licence to double my slim chances of finding a job in this market! Contrary to what you said however, I am a fully fledged UK citizen and have been from birth. Went all through the British education system (back when it was hard), and even passed and joined a certain Hong Kong airline, so I have been educated on the 'your kidding, right?' level, both academically and professionally....
That being said, now that I have been around the flying block a time or two, and now am residing on furloughed street, I cannot but think these exams are bizarre at best - and moronic at worst. Granted, there are some very good reasons to actually learn the subject - and I somewhat disagree with the FAA 1/2 a day study technique - but there has to be a happy medium. From where I sit (behind my desk with a CRP-5 and a scientific calculator) this has not yet been met on an international level, and speaks more to the glaring differences between the FAA/JAA, than all the 'integration' talk we hear of endlessly.
Like I have stated already, I am confident that I can pass, and indeed am endlessly grateful for the thousands of hours I have notched up, as no doubt this is the reason for my confidence. But I feel for those that are new, and have no "been there, seen that, broke that" foundation to draw on. But the government is happy, as are the flight schools - as it means more cash for them.
No studying tonight. A night off is needed...!