It is unclear if using the INQUIRE function for a user-defined driver to return a current status is permitted, and how that would be done.
In the description of a user-defined driver, for example, IFAIL=1 is used to signal to the calling routine that there has been a problem. I don't see any way to set the equivalent of an IOSTAT= value to be returned.
And if there is not, I can deal with it!