A pilot friend of mine is gearing up to start his instrument training and admitted to me that he never looks at the directional gyro.
Really? Never looking at the DG? Apparently so!
Thinking about it, I guess I really don't look it too much when I am VFR either! I'm too busy looking out the window enjoying the scenery.
But NO, his eyes are fully glued to the GPS instead! The GPS? Well, yes, that is where all of the information is - and he is right... kind of.
Flying VFR is all about looking out the window, enjoying the scenery and having fun. IFR is all about focusing on the instruments, practicing precision and complying with ATC instructions. I think the best thing to do in this student's situation is to focus on correcting their instrument interpretation and aircraft control. Get through the instrument rating, and then take some time in focusing on VFR aircraft control without any aircraft instruments. This would also be a good segue into the commercial rating.