In the above posting I wrote
("Multi-engine" should not be confused with "Multi-crew")
because the modular doesn't require it. Whether you can say no to MCC in an integrated course is not exactly what it says in JAR FCL (see above).
It is correct that a pilot might encounter an MCC course more than once, as it is often an integrated part of an initial type rating. And this would be the ideal solution, but as you say, several companies (not just in the UK) has made a business out of doing MCC courses. Where I come from prices run up into GBP 2900 (!)
http://www.centerair.dk/mccfolder/mccframe.html (12 dkk/kr = 1 gbp/£, press the top button in the blue frame "Formal"). I had to buy one myself, even though I had plenty of multi crew experience already (but it wasn't in multi pilot
aeroplanes, but rather multi pilot
operations. Right after I took that course, the long term exemption came up where 500 hours in multi pilot
operations was accepted - so my money and time was wasted. Yes, wasted, because I didn't learn anything breathtaking, with the experience I already had.