Well I certainly dont consider myself one of the "big-boys" even though I passed the ATPL's and have a current CPL/IR. But there again I dont want to fly for an airline.
Although I agree that SOME might consider an IMC as a "mickey-mouse" rating, isn't it also true that some consider a CPL "just a PPL skills test flown to tighter tolerances" or an IR is just "an IMC with a few extra bits."
Of course the 800 hour IMCR pilot has more experience than the 200 hour fATPL holder, but potentially, both could learn from each other.
Bookworm, I apologise for the quote - I worded it badly. What I meant was that if the weather is marginal VMC then the flight could still go ahead with an IFR departure and planned route - indeed that is what I did for my CPL qualifying cross country.