Mr Pony, you are quite right, a host of eminent experts were consulted. They produced a thing called The Moebus Report, which vindicated much of the existing CAP371 limts on crew fatigue.
The problem we have is that this report has been largely ignored in the drafting of the final proposals. The airlines, with Mr O'Leary leading the charge, produced their own 'scientists' that, surprise, surprise, produced a report that challenged most of the Moebus conclusions. It is this second report that is used as the 'science' behind the EASA proposals.
Remember, 'consulted' does not mean the same as 'listened to'.