Good
You are quite correct, following the needles on an NDB procedure, will get you totally lost. Fly a heading Johnm, do not follow the needles. Understand what you are doing.
Vectors from ATC, what if you are out of range, your radio fails, and all you have is your RBI?
The best tool was switched off, because we like to keep very current on all our Nav aids. Don't forget, we could have switched it back on again, but then I am very IR proficient, so was confident of my SA. The flight would not have been so satisfying. Horses for courses though...
You state you have an IR. you should know then the full range of NDB let downs, you may have do do one on your revalidation. Or does your CFI not do these?
Look, flying, in IFR, all the cockpit tools should be practiced, you should keep current on all aids, including the much maligned ADF/NDB, it may just save your life one day. But hey, with all your GPS gizmos, you would never get in trouble, would you
