Original Message

This is a typical pilot "so what" argument. If you have serious instrument time you know what operating with no horizon and no ground contact is all about. How much time you try to torture into the instrument catagory is not relevant. You may be in for a wakeup call when you trully have to operate the aircaft with instruments as your sole source of control. It is also amazing how hood time doesn't really do justice to being in the clouds and depending on an instrument approach to return to VFR.

I guess my point is don't get wrapped up with how much instrument time you have logged. Instrument proficiency is what you should worry about. If you don't know the IFR rules cold, can't fly comfortably in the clouds and complete instrument approaches to low minimums you are not an instrument pilot. How much you have "logged" doesn't keep the greasy side down.