I've been thinking about that quite a long time.
Yes, a "private-IR" would be fine.
But I'm afraid that our dear authorities apply restrictions to those IR : no class A, no major airports, etc.
I do not agree with that.
Private pilots with the required training and recurrent training should be given a full IR with all privileges.
My dream would be that they modify the JAR IR and throw away that extra useless stuff, not only for private, but also for commercial pilots.
This extra stuff can be done in the ATP or CPL cursus !
When you add it to the IR, that means you imply that IR is ONLY for CPL-ATP.
But my dream will probably never be true in Europe :-)
ATC_croa-croa
Note 1 : The FAA IR requires 40 hours IMC, with 15 dual minimum. The checkride is as difficult as the JAA one, and maybe even harder because you have to perform a non-gyro non-precision approach which you do not have on the JAA one.
Note 2 : This note is a quizz. In your opinion, which is the harder : flying IFR as a private, or as a commercial ? Answer coming next !