Its not really, its just something that the south coast Clubs seem to make a big deal out of. There is an almost religious sect down there about it. They have Channel crossing checkouts, channel currency etc etc A right money and hours spinner for clubs.
Once you get North of Gamston they don't make such a fuss about it.
The 2 folk that have asked me about it. I have pointed towards this forum. They posted, someone nice pm'd them with a checklist, they went off and flew across the channel. When they got back I asked them about it and they were very none plussed about the whole thing. They said it was like flying to Barra but you could actually get fuel, the locals could speak English you could understand and there wasn't sodding great hills between you and your diversion.
I have flown across the channel many times but its always been IFR burning JetA.