"Do people use the IMCr just as a get out of jail card? Or do you look to exercise the privileges actively?"
Neither and both. I use the IMC to allow me to earn money on days when without it I could not.
As an FI it allows me to get VFR on top an teach lessons that require a good horizon. Its also frequently breathtakingly beautiful above the clouds which often impresses my customers.
My base doesn't have an instrument approach but a couple of nearish regional international airports do so it also give me the security that I am legal and capable of shooting an approach if the home base drops below limits.
The IMC is also cheap to keep current.
Its without doubt a very useful rating for my needs.