I used the flip-up devices that fit on my glasses, but my examiner
refused to let me use them because of excessive perpheral vision -
made me put on a cardboard hood she carried with her.

Now that I've done more actual IFR, I agree with her - the ideal
device would not permit you to see even shadows moving inside the
cockpit. I almost had to re-learn IFR skills when I started the real
thing.

Once in cloud, there is NO visual cue that you are climbing or turning
apart from those instruments.