I have recently made the choice for IMC rather than IR for the time being. My PPL examiner estimated the cost of just getting the CAA IR at 12 grand. Similar to Sky Warrion I don't mind the exams, I actually quite enjoy them but maintaining the IR under CAA sounds though.
Although I do a fair bit of my flying on the continent, I decided to do the IMC first and then after having sharpened the skills considerably, possibly move on to an FAA IR within the next few years.