Totally agree. In my opnion the UK IMCR should only be for getting yourself to safety in an inadvertant IMC event. It should not be a way to plan IMC/IFR flight in any airspace. Ideal qalification for future upgrade to IR and a life saver.
I'm not sure what your opinion has got to do with it... the ANO begs to differ. But anyway you can't upgrade an IMCR to an IR because the hours aren't credited at the moment. All you can do is start again.
I come from an airline background, and find my present single crew IFR flying, much more demanding especially in actual IMC.(Could be my age though!)
It's not your age; I'm 38 and have two airline pilot friends of 31 and 28. They fly with me and agree that single-pilot, single-engine IFR, OCAS, is a LOT harder than anything they do.
Tim