"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote...

The FAA affirms that there are times when you can be technically
above VFR minimums (not in the clouds and sufficient visibility), but
the horizon and the ground is obscured and those qualify for actual
instrument conditions, even though it's not bad enough to require IFR.

Which is literally contrary to the FARs.

How is it contrary to the FARs (and which ones)? The weather is not subject to
FARs, and neither is an individual pilot's real-time ability to maintain level
flight -- he either CAN do so by means of outside references, or he CANNOT; and
that may change dynamically.