The usual answer, it depends.
Flying from farm strips, staying out of busy airspace and the like not
a problem without (good)communication.
Operating from a busy field with ground, twr, approach freq. and in
controled airspace I think having good communication is rather
important, even for VFR.

I'd agree. Some years ago I flew out of a busy Class C airport. Those
were the days when there were lots of foreign students around -
some of whom had a rather limited command of English. It sure threw a
monkey wrench into the works when one of them showed up.

David Johnson