I did the IMC very soon after acquiring my PPL and frankly, although I did it in the UK many years ago in a concentrated course over 9 days I found it quite taxing.
I would agree that a sound flying ability is essential before attempting the IMC: my problem was altitude keeping, while bouncing aroung in genuine IMC in a particularyl !!!!!ty March many years ago.
However I was pretty old when I took up flying so perhaps you youngsters wouldn't have such trouble!
Bose-x.
You've got me thinking about lights at strips: Do you or any ppruners have a contact number for Spanhoe or indeed any outfit in UK which has (recently) installed Pilot operated lights?
TIA
Safe flying
Cusco.