Agree on the loophole about takeoff and landing. However, the JAR FCL wording sounded like you have to do a circuit, so it could be interpreted a takeoff from A and landing at B without doing a circuit wouldnt count for recency, which is of course B*S*. I almost always fly straight-in and out of my controlled home base airport without doing circuits (that's what is most efficient for everybody anyway).
EASA FCL defines it better in my opinion: takeoff, approach, and landing does cover both circuits and flights without doing a standard circuit, as well as ruling out mere pick-ups and set-downs from a hover for helicopters.