On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:26:17 -0800, Robert M. Gary wrote:

Exactly. Plus, you just don't have to fret weather decisions as much.

Depending upon how you mean this, I'm not sure I agree. I look at the
weather just as much as a VFR pilot. I just look at it a little
differently.

In a way, being VFR-only is *less* work. "Nope, I cannot fly in that" is
a quicker decision than for someone that IFRs.

[...]

The IFR rating is worth it even if it just means you are more confident
the trip will go as scheduled.

As long as one doesn't expect it to yield certainty, I agree with this.

I recall a funny realization when I learned to drive. I was excited to be
able to get places far more quickly than I could by bike. But, once I was
driving, I was immediately even more frustrated by the travel time needed
to get from A to B.

I realized that I'd unconsciously expected travel time to drop to zero.

I also remember being stuck under a ridiculous cloud once, pre-IR. It was
just barely illegal to t/o and fly the perhaps mile or less to get clear
of it (and would have been legal has the airport had no approach {8^).
Everywhere around us was clear sky.

Even the cloud was embarrassed.

- Andrew