Just as an aside...
Its interesting that the use of Pitot heat has been associated with FLIGHT RULES...and not the FLIGHT CONDITIONS...
Anyone heard of IFR in VMC??
If you are going IMC use the pitot heat - remember IMC is NOT just in cloud - but in conditions which do NOT meet VMC minima - so you can still be visual (say between clouds) but be in IMC conditions.
Just a thought....no wonder the eurocrats have started making statements about licence issue about hours flown under IFR....I mean you could fly 1000s hours IFR and NEVER see a cloud....let alone flight by sole ref to instruments....