Originally Posted by Callsign Kilo
Whilst I would never look to intentionally use my rating in anger, I never actually know when it may or could be called upon.
I don't think that's the right way to look at it. If you aren't prepared to use it "in anger", then you aren't going to be in sufficiently current practice to use it when it's called on.
I would suggest there are only two ways to use the IMC rating:
A. Practice regularly - like, try to do an instrument approach (under the hood or using foggles and with a safety pilot, if there's no IMC weather around) every month. If you haven't done one in several months, find an instructor and do some revision. Use the IMC "in anger" whenever you get the chance, to keep your hand in.
B. Not at all.