It is only when you go into the realms of type ratings and see the level of failures and situations thrown at the pilot in a simulator that you realise how minimalistic the IMCR is
Good point actually. It is not about flying in a straight line in a cloud when the engines are turning--anybody can do that after half an hour under the hood.
Most of the IR training is spent dealing with abnormal situations. Even though you know it's not for real I have come out of the sim shaking like a leave more than once after a
Topper-style landing with about as many bits of aircraft missing.
Of course, in a single engine aeroplane, all the above is a bit academic. But then again, I'm not one to fly SEPs in IMC.