I don't disagree that losing the autopilot SPIFR is a significant workload increase. It certainly is, and if you want to declare an emergency, that's certainly a choice you can make. Everyone has a different level of comfort, and a different way of doing things.
There is essentially no SPIFR in the GOM. Some Part 91 operators might do it, but I don't know of any. IFR is done in transport category aircraft with two pilots. I haven't flown SPIFR in a very long time, other than practice in VMC.