Rosspilot wrote:

One other comment then I'll shut up about it . . .

Achieving the Instrument Rating will make you a better VFR pilot.

Not universally true. It certainly will if you start right after
getting your private, hell any flying will make you better. But if
you're sitting there with about 1000 hours of VFR time and then get your
rating you will gain nothing for VFR purposes and actually lose some
skills as the two are different types of flying.