When are they going to catch up with those of us who have real licences
If by that you mean UK national licences, in April 2012 when, with the adoption of the EASA Implementing Rules, only licences issued in accordance with EASA requirements will be valid. Licences issued in accordance with JAR-FCL are deemed to be issued in accordance with EASA, national licences are not.
You have a simple choice - convert to a JAA licence before EASA implementation, in which case the transition is seamless, or don't, in which case your national licence becomes invalid and, as things stand, you will have to pass the relevant licensing exams and skill tests to obtain an EASA licence