would think the total time counts in some way anyway
It does count towards your 150 hours total time required but not the 100 hours P1. Since your PPL is around 50 hours, in terms of CPL 'hour building', it is useless. It also works out at a very expensive hourly rate when all is said and done (£150+).
Again, if you have £3k to spare and the time, enjoy it. But it is not useful towards the ATPL. And the type of hour building you 'should' be doing for your CPL should not need an IMC rating. It's supposed to be VFR.
Keygrip. Couldn't agree more. Be careful though. I've critisized flying in the US (and parts of europe) many times on here, only to piss quite a few people off. I have seen US trained PPL's come here who's idea of VRF navigation is 'follow the coast and left at Disneyland'. I've also seen a PPL skills test in someones log book as 45 minutes blocks to blocks! I digress.....
It's just silly to do an IMC if you're going to do an IR a couple of months later.
EK