I agree with vintageATCO (don't I always). Don't listen to ill-informed speculation, rtfAIC!
Remember that if you get it wrong and have an accident, and the insurance company are able to wriggle, you could lose your house, business, pension and all.
I have asked for and been granted a lot of exemptions. I need them because the Aztec takes five pax. What I do is to offer them reasons why I exceed the minima in other ways (ATPL/IR, not PPL, twin as opposed to single, long hard runway instead of short grass etc) and they usually (always?) reply within 48 hours with a letter of exemption.
A really helpful and efficient branch of the CAA
W