Yes, in the over 40 years I have held an FAA certificate, FAA has distinguished between actual IMC and simulated IMC and has had no interest at all in time flown under IFR.
The only requirement for IFR to earn an instrument rating, or an instrument instructor rating, is the IFR cross country specified in 14 CFR 61.65 (d)(2)(ii). Everything else can be hooded VFR or simulator.
It is possible to earn an FAA instrument instructor rating without ever being in actual IMC and with only one flight under IFR.