More anecdotes and opinions....
I'm sure you know but you never need permission to cross through an MOA even if active. Restricted areas, yes, you need permission from the controlling agency.
Agreed, however in that blob of airspace just south of Palatka the mix of airspace is complicated enough that I choose to stay clear of all unless ATC says it’s all COLD.
IIRC the airway from Mobile to Marianna passes through or very close proximity to MOAs, and with Flight Following I’ve felt comfortable, those MOAs active or not.
With respect to flying Mobile to Marianna, IFR or VFR, when flying IFR in VFR conditions the pilot still needs to watch out for VFR traffic, including non-electrical planes without xponders or ADSB or anything that would help with radar ID.
My experience flying an RV with Flight Following in that area is that the approach controllers routinely moved me temporarily to avoid commuter airlines, military traffic, etc. I know Flight Following is a lower priority but I’ve never had a controller send an IFR (or another VFR) plane scary close to me (not including RIPON to FISKE to OSH). Around the Houston area APPCH will typically issue a vector and/or altitude to me, if I’m in the Class Bravo or not.
Getting an IFR rating is a step that probably improves a pilot’s skills. I’m not sure that flying IFR in VFR conditions from Mobile to Marianna (or back) buys you much advantage in safety or ATC services over VFR Flight Following. Of course, if you disappear while on an IFR flight plan I’d expect ATC activates emergency stuff faster than an overdue VFR flight plan plane.
Compared to the Florida Panhandle I have higher concerns about the flight student traffic flying along the east coast, and central areas of Florida from Daytona Beach, New Smyrna, and points south. I’ve seen groups of 172s arrive and saturate traffic patterns at Central FL uncontrolled fields. As my earlier post, highly recommend having an ADSB-IN system to help keep track of traffic. ForeFlight on an iPad, tied to your audio system, can give you audio alerts about some of the traffic in your vicinity. Another tool that helps!
My 2 cents more, now I’ve put 4 cents into this thread
Carl
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