Shudders run up and down my Spine reading all this.
The USA fortunately has plenty of ATC coverage complete with Radar Service from Control Towers, Approach Controls, and Air Traffic Control Centers....to include Vectoring and Traffic Separation.
Our Standard Separation is 1,000 feet in altitude and 5NM laterally.
I can file an IFR Flight Plan that simply states "Point A to Point B, my desired Altitude, "Direct" for the route, ETD, and remarks of "Radar Vectors Requested".
I have never seen the need nor had the desire to fly IMC outside Controlled Airspace.
That is a function of the availability of Radar, ATC, and Landing Aids....as almost every small airfield in the Country has some sort of Approved Instrument Approach and Weather reporting that allows for the conduct of IFR Operations.....especially with the advent of GPS Approaches.
Even with no Control Tower.....some Approach or Center ATC unit controls the Airspace protected by the Approach or down to 700 feet AGL for those locations where the MDA is above that height above ground.
In the end it is the same.....but we have found a way to do it in a more organized fashion. That and we have the Government funded Infrastructure that is lacking in the UK.
We do not "charge" for ATC Services.....our system is funded by the Federal Government by means of Taxes from the total population. We see Aviation as benefiting the entire Population and not just the "Users" (Operators, Pilots, Engineers, Passengers On-Board Flights).