Cockney Steve,
I have not bothered to comment of this forum for ages, but some of your comments cannot go 'un-challenged'.
You imply that airline pilots do 25 hours a week!!!!!! I am a S/H captain working out of LHR and I manage more than that as 'block time'. You then need to add briefing times, times between turnarounds, simulator checks, ground duties and also the plethora of other matters that are involved in maintaining your ability to remain competent.
Airline pilots are not looking for favours, just sensible FTLs based on scientific data and 'knowledge' rather than the whims of bean-counters in airlines.
The USA is making an effort to tighten some aspects of their FTLs, but the bunch of beaurocrats at EASA are not basing the new regulations on scientific data and even less on knowledge.
'Some' aspects of the new FTLs will increase the possibility of fatigue among pilots, not improve safety.