This pilot did the right thing, he and his passenger are both alive and well.
i cannot comment on the met conditions at the time however weather can change very quickly. sure he didnt activate his elt when he should have and it cost a significant amount more to do the search as a result.
but lets not point the finger saying he made bad choices etc etc.
he did the sensible thing and land when he realised it was a no win situation in pressing on.
we dont know his experience but being his age i guess he chasing hours up there like most, and he lives to fly another day.
good result i think