It does decrease your minmas, and you need to learn SIDs and STARs because if you're flying at complete minimas where 100'-200' mean you're in cloud or out, the holding and approach procedures are usually carried out higher than this and you need to be able to go through the procedures in able to use glidesope etc. All done to keep you safe and not interfere with other IFR traffic as I understand
My intention for the IMC was to use it as a step up into the IR but if you fly regularly, I can see how it could be very beneficial - we all know how quickly that cloud can come in and in those cases 'VMC on top' is fine but how would you get back down through it safely?!