mate no offence but your plans sound a bit all to c0ck
for instance, if going down the professional route as a long term aim, you have to do the ATPL ground school before you get your IR. you also need to hour build before you get the IR, as its an ICAO requirement to have at least 50 hours XC before the IR rating can be issued.
IMC and IR are totally different, and from what you've said so far it doesnt appear you actually know just how different they are. Not only course hours, but the theory side is immensly different.
perhaps you should read Lasors 2006 on the CAA website
www.srg.caa.co.uk