An Instrument Rating is yet another tool to help avoid weather, simply put.

Practically speaking, it is useful on; warm hazy days; low cloud covers,
non-convective ones & some reasonable ceiling; even on convective days, ifr
can be helpful to avoid buildups. It is quite helpful at night.

It is not a rating to fly into weather especially freezing clouds,
thunderstorms, hurricanes, and anything else not mentioned that might
jeopardize your airframe.

It does, in my opinion make one a better pilot, as subjective as that may
be.

WLS