Originally Posted by FlugWeasel
The most difficult aspect logistically looks to be conducting an ILS approach every 35 days.
With both CIR and PIFR there is no need to get involved with ILS. I would suggest that with the lack of ILS equipped airports anyway and the fact that if you need IFR minima to fly that day then maybe a PPL doesn't really need to be flying.
Extending the same logic, you can achieve everything you need with NDB, VOR (maybe not) and DME/GPS NPAs for which keeping currency to CIR standard is not so difficult - especially if you have access to a simulator in which you can knock off all three pretty easily in 40 minutes for about $30.
Finally, PIFR only requires 20 hours IF time to issue while CIR requires 40. If you get your enroute PIFR in one test and the instrument departure/holding/NDB/VOR & DME/GPS NPAs in another then you can go out and pick up the CIR hours at your own pace and importantly, without an instructor but in real IF and real conditions (using your brains and not blasting off into complete crud on your first flight) which should help if you ever decide to upgrade to CIR.
Hope this helps,
UTR.