In Canada we have a VFR-Over-the-top rating, which I picked up along the way to the CPL. It has a lot more instrument training than the night rating, seemingly to help if you get to dest and the forecast VMC is not there, as well as keeping level between layers.
Even before that, my night rating was enough to get me out of a bone-shaking foray into severe mechanical chop with IMC at night, while in the Toronto Terminal zone You know it's serious when the controller's voice is replaced by an older, more experienced-sounding one!.
The secret is practice. My instructors would never have made a living if they only flew in CAVU - the area around the Caledon Hills North of YYZ is notoriously unstable. Transiting to the practice area was often under the hood just to make sure I could keep the plane level.