As much as that rating is a little bit of a pain, you have just hit it's TRUE value....which is that it will, eventually, force a discussion about some pretty critical aspects/myths of VFR-on-top.
This clearance is simply to allow the continuation of an IFR clearance where the pilot may want to be below the MEA/MIA or possibly to allow for some other separation from traffic...
And there is one of the biggest myths. It does NOT allow you to operate below the MEA/MIA. That is PRECISELY why this rating is designed the way it's designed, and why you need to cancel IFR.
AIM 4-4-8 e.3 (
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publica ... ion_4.html)
When operating in VFR conditions with an ATC authorization to “maintain VFR-on-top/maintain VFR conditions” pilots on IFR flight plans must:
1. ...
2. ...
3. Comply with instrument flight rules that are applicable to this flight; i.e., minimum IFR altitudes, position reporting, radio communications, course to be flown, adherence to ATC clearance, etc.
It's also covered by BoldMethod:
https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly ... uirements/ (see the section towards the end titled "Which Regulations Do You Need to Follow?".
In addition to the AIM stating the requirement to comply with minimum IFR regs, it's also fairly logical, because:
1. if you're non-RNAV (which is completely legal for enroute nav in the US), how are you going to navigate along the route if you're well below MEA?
2. if you need to revert back to a regular IFR altitude (ie, you can no longer mainatain VFR cloud clearances), if you're stuck below the MEA, you're in no-man's land.
The rating was written when filing flight plans was permitted from inside of the sim. We'll see if we can optimize for this case. Additionally, we'll get the issue resolved on our end where you're calling for a climb to VFR on top and the controller is making you file. All of that aside, though, the rating was designed to show case how the VFR-on-top gets you on top, however, you need to cancel to continue the leg as a true VFR flight, because you're operating below the MIA for quite a while after that. Later, you pick up IFR again for the destination. It's a bit of a cludge, bit it shows the utility of VFR-on-top as a 'quick and easy' (filing issues above notwithstanding). The alternative for this flight is to do the WHOLE THING IFR, but the routing for it is pretty horrrific, and might even require O2 if memory serves.