Some thoughts:

If you don't know how to fly instruments, either learn (get training from a CFII) or stay out of clouds. And wear a chute.

Staying out of clouds requires, discipline, knowledge, and some luck.

If you think there is a serious chance that you will find yourself in IMC, investing in some sort of attitude indicator would be money well spent. $1000 gets you a portable (non-TSO) Dynon attitude indicator; or a TruTrak Gemini (http://www.trutrakap.com/product/gemini/). Either will save your butt if you know how to use it. Same for a Butterfly vario, if you win the lottery :^)

Unless you practice a lot in actual IMC, trying to switch to needle, ball, and airspeed (or a TruTrak turn coordinator) when suddenly enveloped in a cloud, may not be as easy as some may think... An attidude indicator MAY be easier, but practice would still be necessary (Foggles in a glider? Leave you canopy cover on inflight? Have your glider buddy in formation in his glider to keep a good lookout?).

Really, it boils down to managing risk. And we all know how well humans do that...

Me, I want an AOA gauge!

Kirk
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