The point we are all missing is that on safety grounds the IMCR was never in threat.
Then why was there no provision for it in the EASA-FCL draft? How would a rating continue for which there was no legal provision?
??? what is the cost beyond a 1 hour per year check flight
Between £660-£800 per year.
This is because in the UK Class G one can fly IFR freely, with almost no specified equipment and in practice a handheld GPS does the job. And even if non-radio IFR in Class G was banned, it could never be enforced so anybody doing it will carry on doing it. One doesn't need an IR for this. The IMCR is practically required for landing on an official instrument approach, but enroute nobody knows what you are doing.
That was the original purpose of the IMC, to allow pilots to continue a privilege that formerly did not require any rating, in any aircraft they happened to have. It was never intended for long range flying.