I accept fully that a chute can change risk assessment in other areas, but find it difficult to believe it would encourage a VFR only pilot to do an instrument approach.
Well I may disagree with that. The issue appears to be that the chute mentality encourages individuals to give it a go. Whether it be flying at night, whether it be an IMC approach, there would appear to be an indication that some individuals see the chute as 'life saver' in any event. This regardless of their capabilities/ratings.
I think there is a study on this somewhere. I will try and find it.