BOSE - you are obviously a lucky chap who's made a few quid so you can afford to fly lots and have been able to pay for an IR.
Although I suspect that I almost certainly have quite a few quid less than you, I make a living flying a fast pointy thing - so I get to fly lots, which I consider makes me quite a lucky chap too.
I think that the point that some folk are making is that they don't fly for a living, currently have an IMC rating, use it perfectly competently, are distressed that they might well lose it and don't have a spare £12,000 to pay for an IR.
Far from looking for a 'short cut', I think that several of the people who have posted on here are people who would like to carry on doing what they are doing and who sadly don't have a spare £12,000 to spend on their hobby.