Dont forget you have to have charts and that means a LOT of expense and
hassle for more than one or two areas. Also, anytime one of your
instruments breaks that has the potential of keeping you from flying
safe IFR.

What I did was get my instrument rating. I wanted to get it so I could
fly in the clouds and you do get to see some things IFR that you
wouldn't VFR. I flew out to California and had some good IFR (low
enough altitudes you dont have ice on the coast and low valleys).

I'm able to get some utility out of my IFR rating around my home base I
flew an ILS to minimums once), but on my cross countries (which are
LONG), it's just not worth it to buy and carry all those charts. Other
than that it's usefulness has been to give me the confidence to fly in
VFR marginal conditions knowing that I could go IFR if needed (not
exactly the safest program in the world). Also, I went on to get my
CFI, so it was a necessity to do that.

I would say, overall, for me the rating was a plus. But I WANTED to fly
in the clouds.

Jay knows how he wants to fly. I think it's best to leave it up to him.
In his case, and IFR rating would be a minimal use (like most of us),
but the bottom line is, it's HIS call.