I dont care how unlikely the circusmtances are; the poster asked the question.
And I answered it with the sentence I've repeated twice so far. You are the one who's then contrived scenarios to suggest that it would be prattish.
I have a feeling you have done plenty of touring so I have to add your comment surprises me. I am with IO540 in his earlier post about the real world circumstances of touring, but there it is, your experiences are obviously very different from all (not most) of the people I know
I have done about 500hrs and 100 arrivals outside the UK whilst an IMC holder. Probably > 50% of that in France. I have
never experienced a surprise "requirement to arrive IMC" contrary to a recent TAF. Not even close. I cancelled many trips in the 24hrs before departure, and I had a handful of times where I had to delay the return home by a day or two; once to abandon the aircraft, return commercially and recover it a week later.
Of course, my utility would have been greatly increased by not having to conform to VFR. But let's not kid ourselves that the weather springs unforseeable surprises that often. It is either poor planning or
very bad luck.
Where I in that situation (in the very carefully worded example I gave) and hypothetically if I didnt have an instrument rating which I was entitled to use in that specific circumstance for a purely technical reason I wouldnt take the same course. (and in case you are trying to bate me into an admission of acting illegally of course I have never found myself in that situation
)
My point is I am replying to Nick's question and not your 'carefully worded examples'. I am not trying to bait you into anything. You make your own judgements and do what you will. Nick
asked for advice. I gave mine and I dispute the contrary suggestion that might be inferred from your posts in reply to the advice I gave.