Bless him, don't be too hard on IO, he worked very hard for that IR and likes to let us know he is in the 1%. There is no doubt that an IR increases the utility of GA, thats the reason there are so many biz jets and high end pistons kicking around.
An IR in a spam can does increase the utility without a doubt but without pressurization and proper de-ice then it only adds a fairly small advantage to the spam can flyer, still not an advantage to be sniffed at.
Flying long legs in a standard spamcan is a bit off self punishment! The whole point of GA touring is the ability to stop and take in the local life. Flying for several hours in a Cessna or a TB20 and peeing in a bottle is not my idea of fun. I have the aircraft and the IR but still like to keep my legs down to 3 hours as an average despite being 5 hours plus capable. I flew from Sweden yesterday and could easily have flown the trip home direct at 900nm in just over 4hrs but still preferred to stop half way in Copenhagen to visit a new airfield and have a pee break.
Flying your own aircraft is about having fun, some of us choose to explore long distances other choose to throw their lunch around their stomach and never stray a few miles from home, others dangle under a tent with a lawn mower on the back.
Each to their own, but it all adds up to the incredible diversity of GA and it's the diversity that is available that is why I fly.