MJ,
I agree completely that the IMC is and should be about proper pre planned IFR flight not a get out of jail card. There are a significant number of hours flown safely by people using this method including myself and people like IO540.
there is no reason for a CURRENT IMC pilot not to fly any aproach to minima. When I did my IMC training all my flights were to minima taught by a current IR Instructor.
The only reason I entered the IR route was having access to a high speed deiced twin and wanting to fly the airways on my own priveledge rather than someone else's.
55hrs on an IR is a really long time to fill with nothing for an experianced IMC pilot despite what the "IR elite" may tell you.
"my badge was harder to get so it must be better........."