The FAA, with all its bumps in the system is still more user friendly then the JAA. However, when it comes to validations in certain countries then the respective authorities want to see type ratings printed onto your license, and it makes it sometimes difficult to obtain a validation for your FAA license. The FAA license is till in ICAO license though. In my opinion, the JAA/EASA concept is nothing else but a money milking system in a desperate attempt to diminish aviation on the basis of lowering the accident statistics.