I knew that, I only fly VFR, I have no interest in airlines or IFR, its just not my bag ;D. It just seems to me that there should still be an option to request VFR landing.
Haven't run into that "only can file IFR" scenario; so far for me when flying VFR in FS9 if the Approach or Center freq. is first presented, I'm given the option to open an IFR plan or request Flight Following, which is a good choice when near a busier airspace. Then I'll select my destination off the "Nearest Airports" list, and I'll get the option to contact the tower there, if there is one. Even if you're transitioning a controlled airspace to an uncontrolled (no tower) field, you don't have to tell them where you're landing- just your course heading. Don't need permission either, as long as it's not within a controlled airspace. I do get a little frustrated sometimes using the multiple-choice text system, because in real life, there's much more flexibility in communication (for example, while under Flight Following, or under ATC control in a Class B or C airspace, telling the controller you need to switch for a minute to the Flight Watch freq. for a weather advisory, or explaining that you're transitioning a controlled airspace to land at an uncontrolled airspace below the outer tier of that airspace... that sort of thing). Bottom line: in real life or the sim, when flying VFR it's best to avoid talking to ATC as much as possible (although Flight Following is great for being alerted to traffic before you even see it). Hmmm... now I'm wondering about PIREPS- don't think that works in FS9 either. But the weather info. is available, if you want to go to that page to check the nearest station.... still, it's not as flexible as the real thing.