Good topic, it may look odd for someone to have a lot of IF time but if they were to take along someone who is a qualified pilot to keep a look out then the PIC could put the foggles on for most of the flight & legally log it. As people have said this time would be very hard to check up on even if weather forecast were still available years after a flight was done. To prove that you didnt have the foggles on would be impossible & im not saying it is ok to lie by using this excuse but it could be legitimate could it not.
What about if you are conducting a private flight the new employer cant ring & check with anybody if that flight was planned under the IFR.
AV8R IFR time is only operating under instrument flight rules doesnt mean IMC only on the plan.