Thanks to everyone who replied. I had no idea I would touch off so much
passionate conversation, without a whole lot of consenus. I think I
know what I would do in the situation in the article, but I'll keep it
to myself. I'll just say that the exercise of good judgement is the
essence of piloting.

I did want to comment on the possibility of radio failure in a light
aircraft while everything else navigational continued to work. I think
it's very possible. COM antennas snapping off with ice on them, and
stuck ptt's, broken headset cords (combined with missing hand
microphones and/or broken overhead speakers) come to mind as just a
few.

My opinion on whether being NORDO in IMC is an emergency or not is
simply that if you feel like you're in over your head, then that's an
emergency. Later, when you're on the ground, you can further consider
the point.

-- dave j