G-ROAR,
I am totally in agreement with you and congratulate your decision-making last weekend.
I fly IFR in my deiced Mooney Ovation as well as VFR in my R44. The 44 is just beyond the capabilities of most pilots in cloud - I avoid flying in cloud in the chopper at all costs but just like you would have no problem in my right fixed wing. Single-engined IMC does not bother me (in the right aircraft).
Basically the chopper is far less intrinsically stable and I have found it very hard to hold on a heading on the odd foolish occasion when I have been within cloud. Those foolish occasions just do not happen to me now - I am older and far wiser than once I was!
No autopilot = no IFR for me F/W or helo, the workload and opportunity for disorientation is just way to great.
Fly safely,
SB