Darrell writes:

After my final missed approach ATC tucked us 50 feet under
the cloud ceiling which meant we were not only IFR, we were actual
IMC, too! It was really cool because even though we were IFR and IMC,
too, we were still flying by outside visual reference since the
visibility under the ceiling was good. I did glance at my instruments
to maintain my IFR flight plan which ATC had given us but we were
flying by visual reference mainly.

So the entire experience was largely wasted. Had you actually been in
conditions of poor visibility, your experience of using visual references
would have been useless, and your inexperience with relying solely on
instruments would have put you in danger. This type of nonchalance concerning
flight into poor weather conditions has killed countless pilots.

The thing I would like you, Anthony, to help me understand is how was
this possible since you said that I must fly by reference to
instruments alone while in IFR and/or IMC?

Perhaps one day, when you really can't see out the window and you realize that
you should have been looking at the instruments instead of at the scenery
during all that instrument practice clear of clouds, you'll find out what I
mean. I'm sure it all seems very funny right now, but it won't then.