Real Life (in IMC) IFR training

I am training for my Instrument ticket.
My CFII has a strong belief that during training we fly on actual IFR flight
plans and in IMC as much as possible.
He tells me where we are going and my task is to plan the route, file the
IFR plan and fully brief him, before getting my own clearance.
I also get to decide which instrument approach to request at the destination
airport.
Wherever possible we are flying in IMC and then I get the chance to take the
hood off.
If we cannot find IMC altitudes, I keep the hood on for the entire flight
after passing 500ft until down to Minimums at the destination airport.
He allows some, but not continual, use of the single axis autopilot which is
coupled to the GNS530 via a roll steering convertor.
In fact these flights are achieving objectives for both of us.
For me - I am training for my Instrument ticket, for my CFII - He is getting
help from me in using the GNS530 as a full flight management tool.
When I get my ticket, for sure I will pretty familier with working in the
System [and in IMC], but it is a steep learning curve doing it this way !

--
Roy
Piper Archer II