Qualifying v Competence
I have been reading the somewhat conflicting comments on my question and have decided that perhaps it might help if I said a little about my approach to this matter.
I have no illusions whatever about the IMCR. Bitter past experience with the JAA/CAA flight training regime has taught me that qualifying is one thing, competence in the thing in which one 'qualifies' quite another. However, if one does not qualify, then one has nothing. The essential thing is first qualify, but be under no illusions about what else is needed to become competent and then be prepared to pay whatever it will cost to get that also.
Hence, my approach is first of all to listen carefully to those who know, (such as IO54, ObsCop and tmmorris and FlyingForFun) and then form a plan. The first part of any plan, since JAA/CAA are involved, must always start with getting through the examinations and skill tests.
For this purpose, I have found a very competent career instructor at a very well regarded FTO. I am budgetting to allow for the cost of 30 hours flying just to get the IMCR.
After that, my plans are as yet fluid. One possibility is to look for a group with as good an aeroplane as I can afford to fly. Alternatively, I may start a group of my own. That remains to be decided. Hard to say just yet: that's for the future.
Broomstick.