7700, A very wise move! I would also agree flying around in cloud with no rader cover is not the safest thing on earth. How many others are there with the same view! Even following the appropraite IFR rules for seperation I doubt it would be very safe.
On the other hand flying on top and using an approved let down can't be beaten, especially when its when of those grey miserable days below and you bask in glorious sunshine above!
I do a lot of IMC flight more so then IR flying, i.e non airways flying. A recent trip to the even more frozen north than I live once again highlights the beauty of IMC. We went with a group to Edinburgh taking the twin, the weather was nice when we set out but the further north we got the typically greyer it got so by the time we were at Teesside the cloud base was a still acceptable 2000ish ft but it was all a bit murky. We chose to fly on top at FL55 in the glorius sunshine letting down into Edinburgh. This type of flying is where the IMC comes into it's own!
It is possible to fly on top a lot in the UK within the priveldges of an IMC and let down at an appropriate airfield. The satisfaction as a pilot of PLANNING an IFR trip and letting down it the other end safely is immense.
On hot hazy summer days when you get those clouds so loved by glider pilots it is nice to get above them into clear smooth air. I also think it is safer as the space above the clouds on days like this is usually a lot less cramped and it is easier to maintain a lookout for other traffic even when on a RIS.
I am definately in the camp of the IMC being high value PROVIDED you stay current on your approaches as well as your gauges and don't get tempted into doing cloud breaks into spaces you hope are empty! Thats what an instrument approach is for!