Peter wrote:
The rest of us end up battling high altitude convective wx, ice, etc.
Heroes really, and all this for nil dough 
That’s why we don’t “play airlines” – because one can’t. All the stuff about IR holders “playing airlines” (in piston aircraft) is BS 
I would rent the same plane VFR or IFR, when doing longer trips the IR adds sooo much more ease of flying and planning. Never regretted taking the time to get the IR. It was fun to do and made me a better pilot.
