Personally I find flying IFR to be an awful lot easier and always try to plan long trips IFR and if I can get VFR, then all the better.
I think M_J's comment about planning properly in the first place is absolutely right. IFR flying is not an on the hoof thing. You must make sure you have the right a/c, equipment (in date plates etc.) and are able to actually fly in IMC safely. If you are caught out, then always have your backup plan. If that means changing to IFR, then do it, but you should have thought about it before you even got out to the a/c in the first place.
Always have an exit in flying, never put yourself into any situations where you only have one option. You may just live a bit longer.