"Newps" wrote in message
. ..
What just happened to you is that you helped the local controller cover up
an operational error. Not your fault. The controller at that facility is
required to get a release. The error happened when you took off, having
you squawk VFR is covering it up and gets people suspended or fired.

Looks like the cover up didn't work too well, because when I told Departure,
"I thought I was IFR," he replied, "Well, that's what we thought too, but
evidently Tower messed up."