Re the IMC rating's safety record,
It's an AOPA 'fact' that no one has had an accident while legally exercising the privileges so in order to verify that you'd have to contact AOPA. There have been accidents involving lapsed IMC rating holders, but then there have also been accidents involving people deliberately flying in IMC having never held an IMC rating. I think with all the discussion we've had here over the last few months we would have uncovered an accident involving a legal IMC holder that was related to being in IMC at the time of the crash if one existed.
What pilots go across to France and do sometimes is very naughty
, but it isn't an argument against the IMC rating itself, simply for better enforcement of the rules and training.