Stick with the IMC rating training guys, it's worth it in the long run. Honest!!!
Here's a typical good reason. A week ago we took a pair of ac to France for lunch. Hazy vis. on departure, but within SVFR limits for an IMC rating holder in our Class D airspace. Most of the way to Petersfield we were over 8/8 cloud well below - again, no problem for an IMC rating holder, but not permitted for a plain vanilla PPL. Then the Wx improved near Goodwood and we were VFR all the way to Deauville for a very pleasant lobster luncheon. Back home later and there was a fair bit of cloud on the coast and over Southern England - but good enough for a pairs visual landing when we got back.
In fact I'm so keen on people doing the IMC rating that I never charge an Examiner's fee for conducting their IMC rating Skill Tests! Or re-validations!!