I agree that costs would be an issue. What I'm saying is that NVGs would be a deficit to flight safety and instrument ratings would be a huge enhancement to flight safety. The article gives a figure of £150,000 to convert a machine to NVG, plus there'll be a training add on. I'll bet you'll get I/R's for less than that figure.
Make the case for I/R's and argue it with the bean counters, don't waste time and money on the latest must have.