And, so far as I can tell, it’s no different today. I’ve done it many times. But here is the key point re VFR:
as long as you were above 3000amsl/1000agl
Above that line in the sky, the operational requirement in the definition of VMC in MOS Part 91 does not apply. My educated guess is that’s because above that line you’re not going to collide with the ground or water.