Back in 1974 I did my IR at Kidlington prior to me perhaps having a successful career in civil aviation. I was flying the Short Belfast at Brize Norton at the time but I was also CFI of an RAFGSA Gliding Club and had an interest in an RF-3. I was also flying Cessna 206 and BN Islander for the jumping beans.
I think that might just give me the qualifications for giving a balanced view.
One day I flew the Cessna 206 from Weston on the Green to Kidlington to refuel. I did not get above 400 feet on the short hop.
At the pumps I met a chap filling up his Cessna 172.
"Hello mate" said I "where are you headed"?
"Leeds/Bradford" said he.
"Do you know that the cloud base here is 500 feet - God knows what it is at LBA".
"Ah" said he "but I have an IR".
"So do I" said I "but it so far has not showed me how to pick a field when the engine stops and the cloud base is less than 800 feet".
Some people think that an IR prevents them from having an engine failure.
I have a friend who is a stone mason.