IO540 - that's a useful post: thanks for the perspective from the experienced IMCR pilot viewpoint. As a new IMCR holder, I had been wondering about the order of more possible and planned UK flights. To read of the possible 5x change is helpful.
Ref. use of foggles, I'm happy to hear that they are not the perfect solution to removing outside reference whilst training, and they are certainly physically infuriating! However, I think much depends on the attitude of the student using them: if one tries, hard, to gain the maximum benefit by resisting even trying to use the 'corner of the eye' glimpse outside the aircraft, then the lesson immediately assumes a greater degree of utility, It's like anything else, use it properly, for the intended purpose, and the contrivance will assist: attempt to misuse it, and it will only cause trouble to oneself (in this case by making the 'expensive' training less effective than it might otherwise be.)
My training was conducted usually using foggles, and I certainly found it effective.
Used the skills in some marginal IMC yesterday for an approach and landing, and found no unexpected difficulty. The main feeling is that the increased accuracy in handling, imparted by the training, made the approach easily manageable.