Sam Spade wrote:

In any case, my interptretation of when I am legally on top may differ
from your's. The typical kee-jerk response is to "please the
controller" and report on top when just breaking out in the clear.


You're on top when you're in conditions suitable for VFR flight. You're not
on top when you break out into the sunshine, you have to be at least 1000
feet above that cloud.