IO540,
It is possible in the UK with an IMC rating to legally fly an SID (in total) then along the enroute structure following an ATS route and then fly the full STAR, hold and approach. The departure is a busy UK international airport and the arrival is likewise. The flight is 100% within controlled airspace and is 100% legal.
Perhaps this demonstrates that people don't really know how outsiders see exactly how the IMC can actually be used in the UK and how it can result in a pilot attempting to do something that the rating entitles them to do but they have received absolutely no training in.
I think that is why everyone (outside the UK) looked at the UK-IMC rating and said straight away that the idea of copying it was a non-starter.
Rather than using incorrect information to try and retain a unique ( clearly misunderstood) rating that in other places gives effectively IR privileges to the average PPL. Why not put a bit more effort into getting a new rating that will acheive the aims and gat some from of bridging.
Anything else is doomed to failure I fear.
Brandan