A lot of the questions and comments have concentrated on ways to stick two fingers up to EASA and continue to exercise the (IMCr) privileges on national licences and on Annex II aircraft, however for pilots with JAR licences and a current IMCr (before April 2012) the proposals outlined in the recent NPA (flight in instrumental meteorological conditions) potentially make IMC flying much more accessible within EASA.
As I understand it, those with an IMC rating attached to a JAR licence before April 2012 will continue to be able to exercise the privileges as before, but in addition the IMCr hours will count towards the new competence based modular IR. To my mind, that's much better situation that we have today; i.e. those who have a current IMCr and only want an IMCr will continue to be able to use it (probably called a restricted UK IR), and those who want a full IR will be able to use the IMCr as credit within the new modular system.