What a great discussion!
If this IFR/IMC message is spread more widely amongst British pilots, I am sure that it would help to eliminate some of the confusions that we see everyday when you come to visit us in France.
You are very different in the UK, with your IMC rating and your liberal approach to IMC. I sometimes smile when I hear some people complaining on Pprune about how rigid the CAA are with the IR. You should try living in France, where our DGAC have elevated rigidity to an artform.
TvR