Jay Honeck wrote:
That said, flying cross-country at 500 AGL, just because
the view is better, strikes me as tempting fate a wee bit too much.


I've done that before for other reasons (low ceilings, high winds)
over suitable terrain. I actually felt more comfortable with regard to
emergency options when flying 500-700 ft. over Kansas or central
Alberta than I usually do when flying 3,000 AGL over the mountainous
terrain I usually fly over.

Most of Kansas, for example, is one huge emergency landing site as far
as the eye can see.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)