Thanks guys......a call to atc is always a good idea. I think minimum vectoring altitudes can change frequently(daily/hourly) as scope capability changes. a call just prior to flight would help.

Vfr is possibility depending on your definition of congested/uncontested and risk of complaints from folks on ground.

I'll give atc a call and find something out......just seems there should be a legal/safe way to stay just out of clouds with ground contact and less than vfr visibility on some type of ifr clearance......

Thought the contact approach would be closest to an answer, but curious how they'd handle it if u asked for the clearance via tx before takeoff.

I'll keep us posted