Going back to the original posting:
Also, the FAA is thinking of changing the wording in 61.87 to prevent JAA instructors in the US training a student, then fobbing them off to an FAA instructor for solo and solo X-C privledges.
The JAA have already solved this problem by banning FAA instructors from giving instruction for JAA licences and ratings unless they work at a school providing integrated ATPL training which is registered in, and has its main place of business in, a JAA Member State. So, unless you work for OAT, Lufthansa, Sabena, etc., you're going to need a JAA licence and instructor rating.
JAA instructors, on the other hand, will find no difficulty in obtaining FAA qualifications which will enable them to deal with the pre-solo/solo cross-country problem.
Having obtained the FAA Commercial, Instrument, CFI, CFII and ATP, I can confirm that each of the tests/exams is significantly easier than its European counterpart.
Sensible - Why not compare the PPL Skill Test with the ATP Skill Test, as a comparison its got about as much validity as comparing the UK IMC rating with any Instrument Rating.