This is bandied about frequently at BUR, but it doesn't reflect the reality of bases further north- at some, there has been no turbine upgrades for months (except for the filling of outstations), and none can be expected in the forseeable future. At some the turbine runs are locked in by very senior pilots, some of whom have been flying the same run for several years. However, I would agree that seeking an outstation is one way to speed up the process- if you don't mind moving to a small town for at least six months.

Definitely double check- own nav and cfii2007 are correct. When I applied with AMF, I had 11 hours or so of actual IMC, and the rest of my 80 or so were under the hood. I had no sim time. 135.243c(2) is the relevant reg: "...and 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight;" (emphasis mine), meaning 50 of the instrument hours must have been logged in an aircraft.