LS,
You're being a bit unfair on the UK in your little summary - remember that the reason why pre-January 2001 you could convert a foreign IR to a JAA IR (in the UK) without doing the full course was because the CAA were rather liberally interpreting the JARs in the favour of foreign IR holders. That got them a rap on the knuckles from Euro-JAA HQ so now it's the full course or nothing.
Euro protectionism, yes, but you can be sure that that particular little gem in amongst the JARs was not of the UK's making. It's one from some of our more protectionist cousins on the continent no doubt.
cheers!
foggy.