Brendan,
Maybe just nit picking here but.........
You suggest that an IMC rating can be achieved with less than 15 hours actual IMC or simulated IMC. This was certainly not the case when I gained the rating. A MINIMUM of 10 minutes of time per flight was discounted for takeoff, landing plus any rest time.
When I obtained my multi rating the IMC renewal had to be done in a twin if I wished to use the privileges of multi IMC.
DO.