"Ron Garrison" wrote:
The only problem with it is that the internal VOR capability on the
handset (ICOM A22) doesn't work well because the antenna orientation
is wrong

Have you considered a steep turn? A couple of gees should be sufficient
to get you decent VOR reception :-)

but during a real failure I'll choose communications
with ATC over a NAV radio every time.

No question about that. If the ceiling is below the MVA, I vote for
vectors to the nearest ASR-equipped facility.