Yes this has drifted off the original question, which was posed in the context of a flight into IMC.
The point I was making, which I suspect we partially agree on, is - IFR or VFR in Class G in VMC conditions is a choice of the pilot (i.e. a state of mind) with very little observable difference. In most cases a sensible VFR plan will also be IFR legal and compliance with the IFRs will also satisfy the VFRs (subject to being in VMC conditions). One of the few times this isn't true is when you are flying over terrain higher than 2000 ft AMSL and want to be less than 1000 feet above it - which probably isn't that sensible to begin with. This case also gives the 'odd feature' of having an altitude band which is not IFR legal but above and below that altitude are legal.
Because the IFRs and VFRs become effectively the same for most PPL/VMC operations in class G, it is simply the choice the pilot has made in his mind (a state of mind) that determines which rule set he is following.
Last edited by mm_flynn; 20th Mar 2007 at 20:39.