Jay Honeck wrote:

Disagree 100%. An instrument rating is a nice feather in your cap,
and the training *does* make one a more skillful pilot -- but it is
far from a necessity. Mary and I have flown for 13 years, coast-to-
coast, from Canada to Mexico, all VFR, without mishap.

Jay, I flew for 25 years without the instrument rating mostly because
I never got around to it (I had taken ground school and let the written
expire several times). While it is far from a necessity, it *HAS* in
my opinion increased our safety. Margy and I used to as a team go off
in 3-5 mile vis and such but since the engine failure are a little more
conservative. Having the IR means we don't even have to think about it.

Nothing is fun sapping about being on an IFR if the conditions merit it.
If you're a slave to going GPS direct it realy doesn't matter if you're
talking to ATC in the process or burning along VFR. Still plenty of
oppurtunity to do random wandering etc... but XC I file because why
not. I almost always tried to get FF when VFR anyway.