The CE hours is really annoying and really unclear until you realize they're replacing a self attestation method with CBT automation and software. I had easily more hours of certs in one year than I needed for my bi-annual cert. Heck Hazmat ops or awareness covered half of the total hours.
It is annoying though. I'm pretty sure they're trying to make it easier but it's confusing. The real issue is that none of the old folks at my station care about keeping up the NREMT up as they don't even have one, and the career folks just care about state which is automatic as part of doing their jobs.
Just remember that for every CBT you do online, you also do a hour of practical sign off.
I would find it quite hard to stay in practice just doing the test, nothing beats the randomness of patient contacts.