More than half of private pilots get their instrument rating but having the rating is only part of what’s needed. To remain current, a pilot must have performed and logged six instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking courses using electronic navigational systems. Failure to maintain currency earns you six months grace period during which you cannot fly in IFR conditions. After that you’ll basically have to requalify with a full Instrument Proficiency Check.
Point is, instrument flying is serious business and takes not just training but practice and usage to become proficient, and many pilots choose to just fly VFR (and probably stay alive). I used to fly with a guy who had over 30,000 hours and pretty much knew how to fly IFR but never bothered to get the rating, and was probably a safer pilot as a result because he just didn’t have the situational awareness and focus needed.
Thank you for the info on flight training. Good stuff. Helps with Kobe’s death too.