"Gary Drescher" wrote:
There is always a sole PIC. A CFI is always the PIC with a pre-PP student.
CFIs always need an instrument rating. As far as I know, there is no reason
that a CFI can't let a student manipulate the controls in IMC; the time is
logged as dual, but not for purposes of an instrument rating.

I did plenty of that as a student pilot. I knew I wanted to start on my
instrument rating right away and my instructor was happy to fly in IMC. At
the point where I was almost done with my private, we agreed that if the
weather were ever IFR on a day we had a flight secheduled, rather than
canceling, we would just go out and play in the clouds.