GASH,
I have seen an old cherokee land in OVC 0100 at a non instrument airfield (in very hilly terrain) and take off with 4 big blokes in it into OVC 0050 and winds 25G35 after (believe it or not rather ironically) attending a funeral.
The "captain" was no more than 21 years old - I think the plane was at least 20 years older than him.
The airfield manager (non-pilot) saw no problem with it and was pleased to have the custom, personally I thought the 3 passengers were f&ckin stupid to get into the aircraft at all (probably ignorant of the level of risk - they were after all being flown by a qualified "pilot") and the pilot suicidal as it was winter, the poor weather was widespread and they were likely to be in it all the way home (2hrs or so). They got away with it though and most do.
It is when we stop being horrified by such appauling decision making and risk-taking and start to accept crazy scud running and home made sub-ILS-minima instrument approaches in dreadful weather as the norm that we really need to start worrying about our own safety and that of our passengers.
Inexperience brings with it blissful ignorance of the potentially fatal consequences of underestimating the weather.
RIP
SB