Sure. A PPL in your case is a stepping stone to a CPL. The rules say that any ICAO PPL will do, therefore it makes sense to do an FAA PPL - especially if you are hour building in the States.
Yes, you can do an EASA PPL in the States, and many do. Probably because they think they have to...
A PPL in the US is 40 hours, one written and checkride. The licence is issued immediately, on the spot.
A PPL in Europe is 45 hours, 9 exams and a flight test THEN you have to do another 5 hours to fly at night. The licence is only issued once you have sent away your logbooks to the CAA. You cannot fly straight away (You can't hour build without a CFI signing you off - because you are still technically a student pilot - and you certainly can't carry passengers!)
Now for the IR: In Europe it is 55 hours, (40 sim and 15 multi) average price? £12,000
If you have an FAA IR, you can convert it in 15 hours for about £6,000
How much does an FAA IR cost? Well you're already renting the plane! - you only pay extra for the instructor and test, so $2000 will save you £6,000
The other option is CBIR: as long as you have 35 hours as PIC under IFR (which you will get hour building) - you only need to do 10 hours multi.