IFR vs. VFR along the east coast - a long pilot's log

We did a roundtrip this weekend from Durham NC to Saratoga Springs NY
and back. Went IFR on the way up and VFR on the way back.

Conditions on the way up were primarily VFR with convective storms.
Even though I filed a route to avoid the DC ADIZ, I was routed through
it in order to miss the restricted area at Aberdeen. I stopped at
Kutztown to eat and fuel. I filed to avoid a convective sigmet over the
Catskills but was cleared for a route directly thru it. I decided to
look but it soon became clear that my original route was the right path.
Seems to be a great deal of reluctance for ABE approach to coordinate
with NY. ABE and everywhere else seems slow after NY... Albany
approach gave us accurate storm avoidance information and we enjoyed the
lightening picket line to our left as we rounded the last storm and
landed at Saratoga - minutes before storm gusts started to blow. Less
than 15 mins in IMC but critical to remaining high and otherwise visual.

The forecast back home was hard VFR and I really wanted to fly as
straight as possible and hopefully do it in one leg. Decided not to
talk at all and simply work out the routing as we went. THis turned out
to be a lot of map work but to my surprise, I could virtually go direct
PXT and home. The winds were variable but favorable so we cruised at
9,500. I climbd up to 10,500 after encoutering some chop I sensed was
some kind of windshear that could mean better speeds higher up. I
gained 10 knots at 9,800 feet so the climb paid off with up to 30 knots
of tailwind.

It felt illegal and wrong flying without radio contact including over
the top of Phillie Class B. I tuned all the right freqs and heard
myself called out several times. No one had any real problems but an
unknown VFR target is a real liability. Despite ground radar and TCAS,
I don't think a single airliner ever saw us even though I easily spotted
them. I don't think we'll be doing that again.

Great weekend and flight. Very satisfying use of the plane and the
airspace.