What is great about instrument flying? Well, we can define everything by a number on a gauge.

What is great about contact flying? Well, you can't define anything by a number on a gauge. Or, if you do, there may be problems. Contact flying is not like that. It never was.

If there are trees, there is really no Vy or Vx or any V speed. There is only what natural and engine speed we can squeeze out before we must pitch up. The speed that will bleed slowest is the speed we keep by directing our course to just the top of the trees and no more.

If there are trees, there is really no Vy or Vx or any V pitch attitude. There is only the pitch attitude that will direct our course just over the trees and no more.

Forget headings and altitudes, There are only targets and obstructions and mountains. Forget going where ATC directs. We go where we direct ourselves. Hopefully that neither causes us to hit something nor to stall and fall. The design of our airplane, to fly, will certainly help when we let it.

IFRs are carefully packaged for safety within a well defined box. Contact flying is not like that. It never was.