Sorry to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, but if you are going the full hog towards an IR, why do an IMC?
Do your hour building, it’s all P1. Your IMC training will be logged as P2…so you need more P1 hours.
Your CPL will include almost a full IMC course under a highly qualified instructor who ‘may’ well be better qualified to teach the basics of instrument flying. Now, before the **** hits the fan, I am now rated to teach IMC to PPL students, but know that CPL rated instructors I work beside teach basic IR much better than me.
The hour dispensation you get towards your IR by having an IMC under JAA amounts to the thick end of ****** all.
Do some hours where it is cheap. The States is a good idea. You will hear a lot of negativity towards the idea of that from those on the site who have never flown there. However, if you use the hours sensibly you will be able to fly into international airports etc etc and gain experience you couldn’t hope to gain over here.
I would stress that you have to use these hours sensibly as there is no point in wasting aviation fuel punching holes in the sky.
In my opinion an IMC is an excellent add on for PPL’s who only want to fly in the UK and might need to get themselves out of the **** .
good luck