Mad Jock,
Whilst I completely agree with your post, I think littco was refering to the fact that with the hoods up you can't look out even if you wanted to. Therefore, it makes no difference if you are IMC or VMC. If you have the hood up, your instructor or saftey pilot should be doing that for you. That is why they have to be there by law.
I understand that in a SPA in VMC under any type of service, you need to look out and I think littco would agree.
30ft makes me twitch!
EK