I said the essence of visual flying is seeing where you are and something where you are going. I chose my words very carefully; I didn't say definition. If you cannot see something where you are going you cannot fly visually, not safely. That is the rule I apply and I don't really care about arbitrary numbers or inadequate definitions.
The whole point of having a person in charge of an aircraft is to deal with unforeseen circumstances. Otherwise you might as well totally automate the whole operation and put an actor up front to placate the sceptics.
Years ago a retired Air NZ pilot told me the story of an old pilot who used to sit in the cockpit and say to himself: Today might be the day it all turns to !!!!!, am I ready? An aphorism I do repeat.
We humans should remember the sky is not our environment. We can be there one second and gone the next. Care and attention is my mantra. Stick your Swiss cheese in your fondue, it won't save you.