Two points then:
Firstly, my reading of "absolute minima" was of the
unconditional flavour - case 5.
The reasons for choosing to read it that way is, as bookworm is aware, the phrase absolute minima has a very clear meaning in the context of landing minima off IAPs. I read this as imposing just such "absolute minima" on IMC-rated pilots, albeit for different reasons. It is inconceivable to me that even the CAA would rely on two different meanings of the phrase "absolute minima" in two such related contexts.
Secondly, I am not convinced that the grammar of the sentence implies that the absolute minima are in some way a recommendation, the use of the word BUT implies a division between the recommendation and the requirement.
This does risk becoming one of those debates along the lines of the IMC rated pilots out of sight of surface outside the UK. Perhaps having lit the blue touchpaper it is time to retire to a safe distance. "The Volunteer" sounds appealing doesn't it bookworm
2D