Originally Posted by WalkOfShame

Um, yes there is. In the original post, mikearuba said that he and his instructor went on several flights, filing IFR, to gain real world experience in the IFR environment. As an instrument student, he couldn't log PIC on any flight time (XC or not) that was spent on an IFR flight plan or in instrument conditions because he was NOT instrument rated and can't be PIC per 61.3(e)(1), thus making him not rated per 61.51. So, the XC time spent on those flights doesn't count towards the XC PIC requirement for the rating. Now, if the flights (XC or local) were completed under VFR conditions (and not on an IFR flight plan) shooting practice approaches under the hood, then he COULD log PIC time because he was properly rated, and as long as he was sole manipulator of the flight controls. The 250nm XC does not require the student to act as PIC because it is intended to give the student real world experience on an IFR XC. Night and instrument are conditions of flight and can be logged if PIC or not.

Your right, its not that much of a grey area.