Interesting observations and discussion. I am instrument rated but my
other partner is not. We live and fly up and down the East Coast from
the DC area. He has flown several times down to the Bahamas and back
VFR in our Warrior. For such a long trip I have commented on his
"luck" in making it thru several times without getting grounded. But
maybe its some of those VFR - IFR percentages Jay mentions. I've
never tried to run the comparative stats here.

All I know is that a) when I really want to get somewhere because I
have reservations in some hotel or because I'm visiting family on some
holiday, I don't want to take a chance that the stats will work
against me. And b) as others have noted, I am a MUCH better pilot
than I was before I went thru the instrument training.

Despite what the weather stats may say, I am still a firm believer in
the saying "Having a VFR ticket makes flying fun. Having an IFR
ticket makes it practical."

--Jeff