No I am quite happy with the clear of cloud bit.
Although once the viz is down to 800m quite how you know if your in a cloud or not is up for debate.
You can't just declare IFR and operate in 800 metres visibility instead of the 1500 metres for VFR if you don't comply with the latter.
That was the statement I was replying to.
And for VFR you also have to be outside cloud. So if your viz does drop below 1500m there is nothing stopping (apart from not being suicidal and common sense) you declaring IFR and continuing until it goes below 800m.