BedfordJ5:
Splitting the test is what nudged me into going straight for C+E rather than just C. Plus I get more training time in the course to get used to the truck.
I think you are definitely doing the right thing even if you want to drive rigids. You will learn more in 1 week on the roads by yourself in a rigid than on any course just take a bit of extra care. At the end of the day a rigid drives similarly to a car though obviously because it is so much bigger you need to get used to leaving more room for cornering, taking wider arcs and being aware of you size which comes quickly with experience.
Getting experience of one big thing to help you get used to another completely different big thing is unnecessary imho. I accept I have only driven fuel bowsers and I base my opinion on that only so I will happily accept other peoples views !