Well I guess if you work on that proverb (very interesting and I think probably quite true for some of the super rich who gamble away their family fortunes - although more of that happened in the 80's, now it seems they become green politicos or some such), as have previously said the super super rich tax them to the hilt, but it won't happen because us middle of the road lot are far easier to tax aren't we!
On a tangent, earlier on in the thread it was posed what would knowing that it was all going taken away and how it would affect your spending behaviour (or that is how I saw it)?
I came to the conclusion today after much mumbling and grumbling from my siblings that my parents weren't helping them out (they aren't helping me out financially either!) with private school fees for 6 kids between them (own choice perhaps and asking my parents to fork out 10k per child per term!!!!!!!) - that perhaps what money my parents have they should spend on themselves, they have spent most of their lives "helping us out" with a good education to further ourselves, lovely family holidays (nothing fancy, cornwall/france but vvv fun), when my df was working he would help us out with further education, helping my ds set up her business.....blah blah blah, and now the siblings are asking what their inheritance is likely to be .
Frankly I say spend it as life is too short and they are in the 70's so perhaps reading this thread has made me realise that there is more to life and yes I can earn my own money.
My major concern with IHT is with regards to my own dd and what would happen if something happens to dh and myself while she is young, would love to have the opp to leave enough money to leave her comfortable and provide her with the life that we would like to provide for her if alive iyswim.