I have a night rating and IR. I don't regularly fly at night as my base airfield is closed and also the risk (single engine) is increased.
However the night rating opens up potential options:-
e.g. commencing a flight before official daylight (SR -30 mins). i.e. a "night" departure with "day" landing.
returning after an unexpected delay (headwinds) has pushed the landing into official "night."
Night also has the advantage of less traffic. At a large regional airport towards SS the place was like a beehive of GA aircraft, all buzzing the circuit and multiple on final. Once the clock past the magic SS+30 the place was deserted. Much safer to fly in SS+45 mins. (Not necessarily real darkness).
With the IR, the "night rating" is effectively only the last 200ft and landing.
flyme