BEagle,
Although I know what you mean, I also know what bfato means, and I think you are both right in your own way.
For example, when "grinding round the NDB hold", the IR pilot will be looking to see if the gate is coming in at the correct rate, assessing his position and altering it if necessary; checking the needle is leading him onto his inbound track correctly during the inbound turn; checking his stopwatch and adjusting the timing if it's not spot on. This is a very professional attitude to flying a hold (albeit that "professional", or commercial, pilots rarely grind around the hold, and if they do they often have an autopilot to do it for them).
An IMC-rated pilot, on the other hand, might fly his planned outbound heading for his planned time, turn inbound and make some corrections to get back on track. If his planned headings and times are grossly wrong he might adjust them. He will hold his altitude accurately, and his track will keep him well within the protected area for the hold. So although his approach to the hold might not be quite so "professional", he is most certainly not dead!
I think maybe a better summary is that the Instrument Rated pilot is taught skills which enable him to operate the aircraft in a more thoroughly professional method. But both pilots will use the skills and methods which they have been taught in a totally professional manner in order to avoid being dead.
Now..... discuss!!!
FFF
----------------