I haven't read the entire thread but...
the instructor was happy to just put me right rather than fail me.
An instructor will never fail a candidate for a Flight Review. If he doesn't think you're acceptable, he'll just put it down as regular training, or preparation for a flight review.
That's just the way it's done and the way the FAA want it done - in my experience.
I think the name changed from BFR to Flight Review as well as there was talk about it not being every two years. It should be an informal process of an hour plus an hour. I make sure anything the FAA is stressing gets covered (runway incursion is the current favourite) and then I ask the candidate what his weaknesses or special requests are and we work on those.
I wish they had a similar thing with cars :roll eyes:
Good luck