When did they shut down opposite direction approaches?

[genot]

Are commercial airliners not always on an ifr flight plan? Who gives the takeoff clearance to an aircraft on an ifr flight plan? .

Nope. I see commercial flights all day long flying VFR provided there is VMC. I've even seen a commercial airline come out VFR and navigate using only pilotage/dead reckoning. As to the second quoted point, who gives a takeoff clearance to IFR aircraft at a non towered airport?