It is a Micky Mouse instrument rating and I always as you know supported the idea of a FAA style instrument rating valid across Europe!
The IMCR has safety benefits which are as a get out if jail card for the VFR pilot not as an instrument rating to be used in anger!
What complete nonsense.
There is almost nothing in the full IR (US or EU) which exceeds the IMC-R and which is relevant to flying.
Just a load of old codgers feeling smug about something they achieved 30 years ago. And most of them did it using shortcuts which closed with JAA.