I have never had a problem descending to clear icing conditions
You must know some new bit of physics.
Example: OAT on the ground: -2C. How will you descend to clear icing conditions? The only way to get rid of any ice picked up will be for it to sublimate, which takes an awfully long time.
What planes were you flying? Single or twin pilot?
Your routes would also be interesting. Which bit of the world?
Let's say you get a DCT BCN (Barcelona VOR) from 250nm away. How would use use a KNS80 to do that? (I can see ways but not easy). Or a DCT to some French VOR which doesn't have a co-located DME?