Yes, the IMC option was crippled off the LPL by the committee which was loaded with VFR-only industry interests and which wanted the easiest passage for a VFR-only license for its plastic sports products.
As soon as the word "IFR" is mentioned, things get very political. All the time you talk "VFR only" there is no problem because there is no implied access to CAS; ATC can always say "keep out" and that sidesteps the whole issue.
However another EASA committee has been set up recently to re-examine the private IFR issue, and it looks pretty hopeful. It probably won't be an LPL add-on though.