If you (or any other pilot) say you're flying IFR, then you are, provided you comply with the requirements. It's not dishonest or bad airmanship to do it, just personal choice.
I am not denying that. Go back and read the original post. I merely stated that in my humble opinion using IFR as a way of 'getting a better service than others' could be construed as bad airmanship. Taking up the resources of controllers that could be better distributed amongst a broader audience when the conditions would suggest a different approach.
It's my opinion. You don't have to agree with it, but you are wasting your energy trying to convince me too your way of thinking just because you don't agree with mine.