I used to think that too...until I started dealing with EASA. The FAA is a model of efficiency and wonderful customer service when compared to most CAAs that fall under the EASA banner. Just for an example, a colleague who had a German license and had his bag with his license stolen on a train. He was grounded, without pay, until he could get a new license. No online forms, or immediate verification/authorization like with the FAA. No, he had to snail mail all of his original written test and check ride reports, plus send a notarized copy of his passport. It took over two months for him to get a new license. Some CAAs, like in Spain or Italy, it can take in excess of six months. If you can find a CAA in EASA that can do it in under two weeks, that is an efficient CAA. So yeah, the FAA now looks quite reasonable and efficient in comparison. Still, this situation sucks for the innocent people involved. Don't feel sorry for the folks who accepted the license without the check ride though, they deserve it for cheating the system.