I don't really want airways or other Class A flying, and wouldn't use it enough to remain sufficiently current.
Paradoxically, and this is the great secret of the IR
, flying "airways" is a lot easier than using the IMCR to its full in UK Class G.
It is not unusual to do a 5hr flight and log 10 minutes of instrument time on it. The rest is VMC on top in sunshine.
The IR gives you IMC privileges, obviously, but the equally practically important privilege is the implicit whole-route IFR clearance. You can fly across Europe, knowing nothing about controlled airspace, or even countries. The other day I did a 6:20 flight across half a dozen countries and barely noticed the changes.