Excellent timing of the original post and thank you for the information. I just sat my 14th exam today and am headed next month to Gatwick for my medical. I am still waiting to speak with the FCL office to see if I can finish this up with just a B300 sim ride... Out of my own pocket naturally. The costs keep climbing and it has been a two year process so far since signing up for distance learning ground school. Studying, kids, and a full time job don't necessarily work well together.
Good luck to anyone going through this process. I have run into several Americans at the testing center, there are those of us that either choose to or are forced to, but it was nice to know I wasn't the only one trying.