That they send them that late doesn't have to do with the printing. Some bands also have souvenir tickets here in Germany and BJ had them last year in Hessisch Lichtenau and we got our tickets right when we ordered them. I guess the UK does it the way they do to prevent scalping (even if it doesn't really work).

You should take your order confirmation with you when you pick up your ticket though. My friend had a problem when she wanted to pick up her ticket for the Hall of fame last year. For whatever reason Ticketmaster sent the ticket to her home but it hasn't arrived until she left Germany. Only with the order confirmation on that stood row and seat she could get a replacement ticket. So better be sure than sorry. Plus, if you didn't use your own credit car you need something written by the credit car holder that allows you to recieve the ticket. Another friend had problems in 2002 at Shepherd's Bush because she used the credit card of her mother. She needed to go back into her hotel for calling her mother that she can fax a letter.