Section 4 Part L page 7:
ATP modular course – Aeroplanes
1 Applicants for an ATPL(A) who complete their theoretical knowledge instruction at a modular course shall:
(a) hold at least a PPL(A) issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago
Convention; and complete at least the following hours of theoretical knowledge instruction:
(1) for applicants holding a PPL(A): 650 hours;
(2) for applicants holding a CPL(A): 400 hours;
(3) for applicants holding an IR(A): 500 hours;
(4) for applicants holding a CPL(A) and an IR(A): 250 hours.
The theoretical knowledge instruction shall be completed before the skill test for the ATPL(A) is taken.
You would have to take whatever course you wanted again, within the constraints above, at the discretion of the head of training.
"the biggest pain for me is having to undergo an approved course and taking the time out and expense to attend classroom days to cover the EASA requirements. Simply buying the books, studying, and attending the exams is much, much easier."
So it is, and everyone else has the same problem. With all of this indecision you have had over the past few months, you could have finished by now.