X-Plane Author's TFR Story

Wouldn't en route contact with ATC have prevented Austin's TFR
violation?

If he had requested Radar Traffic Advisory Service, surely ATC would
have alerted him to the pop-up TFR.

That's my understanding - but I partially agree with one of the
previous posters who suggests flying on an IFR flight plan anywhere in
the northeast. I'd limit that to anywhere that involves transiting the
D.C. ADIZ tho - north of there it's fairly easy to stay out of trouble,
and usually a lot faster to just duck under the outer rings of the
various Class Bs up to Boston.

--
Guy