dlevy wrote:
This question goes out to those with ifr experience (I'm proud to say my
ticket is 17 days old). Is it reasonable to just print the destination and
alternate plates and depart?

If the weather is VFR and you're just filing because you want to, not
because you have to, then it's probably reasonable.

If the weather really gets bad, you'll want more choices than just
your destination and filed alternate. Having the full book with you
gives you those choices.

The idea is to always have an out. Let's say an hour into a three
hour flight a pax starts to feel ill (or airsick, or has to pee, or
whatever). If it's IFR at the nearest airport to your current
position and you don't have approach plates for it, you've got a
problem.