Speed control on a Visual Approach at night
Say it's completely VMC (at night) - you can see the lights of the town near the aerodrome from over 50nm away, but the runway itself has no VASIS/PAPI (I experienced this the other night going into Moree).
Technically to conduct a visual approach in this situation (IFR) you need to be inside the circling area before leaving the MSA/DGA step. In your opinion does this mean at night you're effectively in IMC until inside the circling area and therefore need to comply with speed restrictions for Instrument Approaches (eg max and min Initial and Final Approach speeds)? I tracked via the RNAV to allow a straight in approach and think speed control should be the same as if you were conducting the approach in IMC, but have heard others disagree and say there shouldn't be any restrictions on speed.
Just keen for people's ideas/any other situations you've experienced like this where it's a bit of a grey area!