If the vertical serperation between the cloud layers is only 1000ft, and you are above the transition level, then you are not meeting the requirement of VFR. You need to be seperated from cloud 1000ft vertically under VFR above 3000ft. To meet his you'd need a 2000ft gap between the cloud layers. So your option 3 doesn't seem to be legal. It may very well be the most sensible though
Indeed. Option 3 may not be technicaly legal, but the regulation is likely to be almost unenforcable (ever heard of a prosecution for breach of the quadrantal rule?) and it would seem to be the best option from the point of view of safety management. On most days, it's likely to put you at less risk of collision than VMC below cloud, and probably less than IFR in the cloud.