Bose-X
I think you hit the nail on the head in that the IMCR is used by some as a get out of jail free card and by others to make it more parctical to use the aircraft for transport while unable to find the commitment to do a full IR. I see nothing wrong with either attitude and they both add to safety in my view. One can survive getting caught out, the other can go in less friendly conditions than he could otherwise.
I see IMCR as to some degree a stepping stone to IR (rightly or wrongly) and was taught by a very professional lady (now a captain for Flybe) and examined by a training captain from a well known airline. I'm revalidated by an FAA/JAA IR examiner who is pretty stern.
I can fly approaches with confidence and fly in solid IMC under IFR outside controlled airspace fairly regularly.
I now have (I hope) the time to pursue an IR and I am going to sign up for groundschool at CATS I will then use it in anger whenever I can in my lowly Archer2 and maybe sell the Archer and buy a share in something a bit beefier.