"I'd make it an offence for anyone without an FI Rating to ask for a training fix. In fact I am writing to the CAA SRG today to ask for that to become a UK rule."
WWW - I agree with everything you say but this.
Pilots are responsible professional people (and I know their might be the odd exception). Making sure you are familiar with how to make a call to D and D, etc is as much a part of currency as PFLs.
It is a fact that their are many pilots who have never been asked to obtain a training fix and probably never will be at their renewals (I know it has never come up for me when I have done my renewals). For that reason when I do a group check with another pilot I always cover the topic.
By all means when you do renewals with pilots train them how to request a training fix correctly but PLEASE dont use the cop out you propose!
Oh and "Following IR minimas when you only hold an IMC rating?" - now come on I hope you are only referring to the legal distinctions between and IMC and IR and not the RECOMMENDED minimas - quite different things as I am sure you are aware and one on which surprisingly far too many instructors seem to be confused.