It's a fair comment, but as this is the 'private flying forum' it follows that most on here just fly for fun, and the ATPL exams just are not relevant or practical for someone who simply wants to be able to access the airways system in a single engine tourer. A more practical solution needs to be found in my opinion. The FAA system, regardless what some people here will tell you, does provide a good level of safety and knowledge for IFR flying in Europe - heck, even I managed to operate an N reg King Air and Turbo Commander in Europe using FAA tickets perfectly safely!
I for one have accepted that this route will inevitably close for European Pilots after 2012 and have started on the painful conversion process, but for a private pilot it's simply inpractical. If I were intending only flying for fun I'm pretty sure I'd probably knock it on the head after 2012 when EASA suck the life out of GA.
