And by the way there has never been a fatal accident in the UK attributed to an IMC rating holder exercising his legal priviledges.
I've held the IMCR for over 20 years now and I've recently become a FI. I wouldn't have dreamed of trying to get an IR for this purpose, the IMCR does evrything I need to instruct.
As a new PPL many years ago I had a few 'dodgy moments' that encouraged me to do the IMCR. I think it taught me far more about avoiding unsuitable SEP weather than encouraging me to fly by sole reference to instruments in bad weather. I think that this is the beauty of the course and perhaps why IMCR holders have such an excellent safety record.
Personally I'd far rather cross the Pennines or cruise up the Western Isles at FL65 even if conditions are VMC rather than try and grub about under the cloudbase; depends upon what you want from the flight. Incidentally, the Isles look just as beautiful from that level, maybe even more so, as you get the breath of vision from up there. It's just that with the IMCR, it really doesn't matter to you if you DO encounter cloud. I probably wouldn't go, though, if I thought it was going to be cloud all the way.
I can appreciate that there are those who feel the need for an IR to give them access to the airways system and other Class 'A' airspace but I do agree that largely the IR is all about getting a RHS airline job, not taking a PA28 to Geneva or Nice.
TheOddOne