Do your IR if you can afford it, a lot of rig flying's IMC and the crunch is you may have 2 grand worth of VFR but if you don't have the spatial awareness to fly IMC it'll all be for nothing if the rigs are your eventual aim, saying that you could always go back to being an instructor. Bristow have an IR school in Norwich with Steve Bell who's a great bloke and a fine instructor; there's also the added bonus of being in the Bristow loop, albeit a distant one (ie; if you're any good they may snatch you up). I was faced with exactly the same decision 6 years ago and never looked back. Oh, and never underestimate the power of luck and being in the right place at the right time. Best of luck.
