I have reflected on our earlier fun and games and a general winding up - or in that spirit I take it. It is fun to see a bit of passion again on this forum.
Perhaps after a while a descent through a shallow overcast becomes such a non event that it is difficult to appreciate why some see it so differently. Blase perhaps, but if I ever was not technically qualified to do what I have suggested then I would go right ahead and do it any way - so there!
As to being caught out I can think of a number of trips which didnt end up as forecast. Could I have diverted some where else - probably, would there have been holes in the overcast at the diversion - maybe, but I never went to find out.
My nemesis for unforecast weather over the years has been Newquay (St Mawgs as it was), Dundee, Southern Ireland and the CIs. Maybe the similarity between the four is coastal weather that can and does change unexpectedly, together with a lack of close diversions that wouldnt be equally effected.
I would never under play how cautious we should all be with the weather. As most of us I have been caught out twice in my career, undoubtedly pushing on when I had no business to do so. As it turned out both were non events BUT they could have proved otherwise, and you definetely learn that frontal weather with any activity is to be avoided unless you are very certain of being able to get over the top.
My worst weather experience by far had very little to do with IMC and everything to do with the wind. The wind was forecast to be around 25 knots from memory but over the course of the flight of about one and half hours became the top end of 40 knots with gusts well into the 50s. All the planning went out the window when it became apparent there was very little available that didnt involve a distinctly cross wind landing.
I have found it fascinating how polarised the views in this debate are and the way in which we can be unswervingly controlled by regulations. Some one said earlier the Germans wouldnt dream of departing from the model citizens, we are probably closer to our German friends than most, hence we form neat and tidy rows unlike our French, Spanish and Italian friends who form disorderly rows and say wvat cloud, I never saw it.