"ktbr" wrote in message
...
I wonder how many PP sans IFR rating actually
have practiced simulated instrument flying and unusyal
attitudes since their checkride?

Good question. I think all pilots should, if nothing else, regularly
practice instrument flying on a PC sim.

Even good instrument rated pilots
(the best ones) set personal minimums until they gain a certain
number of hours of instrument flying to gain confidence....
To maintain instrument
currency you are required to fly approaches, holding
patterns and so forth every six months (and that's bare minimum).
If you are doing 10 minutes every 2 years during BFR you
are a potential statistic.

That's not a valid comparison. Instrument-rated pilots need that much recent
experience primarily in order to fly approaches. (And the personal minima
chiefly address how low the ceiling and visibility can be for an approach.)
No one expects a non-instrument pilot to fly approaches or holds, or even to
multi-task well enough to do much navigation in IMC. Emergency preparedness
for accidental IMC encounters only involves enough skill to keep the plane
upright while maintaining some approximate heading and altitude until VMC is
found.

--Gary