Rusty,
The PPL instrument flying just about enables you to do a 180 in cloud and get out; I know, I ended up having to do so on my first flight after I got my PPL - and it was hard. Cloud is not like foggles; it's bumpy and disorientating and often has nasty bits in it that throw you around. The IMC, as I understand it, enables you to cope if you end up in worse weather than you'd anticipated - to cope with flying in cloud and speaking on the radio and twiddling VORs etc and whatever else you need to get you out. That's very very different.
On a slightly different subject, having just been doing this sort of stuff in a R22 (even more difficult!) for my CPL(H), which I should have very soon if all goes well, does anyone know if I can get any reduction in hours required to do a fixed wing IMC rating?