Flying in IMC in Class G airspace without radar
Bose-x I agree with you and would not be happy to fly IMC outside controlled airspace without a radar service (although I haven't quite completed my IMC training).
I think the whole matter is an issue of quantifying risk. Of course there is a collision risk if flying IMC outside controlled airspace (as you yourself found out near Nottingham), but how great is that risk? Is it greater / less than the risk I take when I cycle in the city centre, snowboard down a black run etc etc?
I would imagine even scheduled commercial flights regularly fly IMC outside controlled airspace without radar cover (although not certain so someone pls correct me if I am wrong), for example Glasgow - Barra & Benbecula. I would say the risk of collision in this particular example is very small and therefore justifiable. However, flying IMC in the SE outside controlled airspace I would percieve to bit more risky due to the potentially higher volumes of traffic.