Lots of folks out here that are more knowledgable than me in the technical aspects, rules, etc..
The IMPORTANT REASON for an instrument rating as I see it today in the Helicopter industry is NOT that you will fly Instruments for a while, but that you COULD be intimidated, coerced, or just stupidly wander into IMC conditions while flying VFR for a VFR only company. The importance between having a rating/training and not, may just be the difference between life and death...