anyone tried this?

[Arthur Little]

This consulate does not do the pre recorded.pre paid delivery of passport you have to collect or authorise someone to collect

Aye ... that was our experience with the French Consulate, too - albeit in Edinburgh; whereas, the branch of the Italian Embassy we used [also in Edinburgh] did ask for the whole caboodle - including prepaid envelope.

So it would certainly seem each European nationality has its own individual requirements. Goodluck in getting the extended version.