This is an interesting idea I hadn't thought of. There is an ILS approach for a class D airport about 10 miles north. I didn't think it would be possible to be on an ILS approach 500ft clear of the layer and then fly homje. That would be better for sure.

I'm willing to bet 700ft is well below the minimum vectoring altitude for the area, so my original idea won't pan out.

I'll take a peek at ebay, I was told to upgrade to an IFR GPS would be in the range of $30,000 which is substantial just for the ability to come back in after 6pm in the summer.