"An instrument rating is only of use to get you home."
Wrong answer! An instrument rating will prevent you flying into the ground should you end up in the middle of a cloud. Then you can go home in one piece, as can your crew.
"You can't fly to a job on instruments."
If you're operating amongst high ground then the weather should be suitable for you to do so; I'll bet there's a paragraph in the PAOM about operating above the highest obstacle within a certain distance. That's how you don't fly into that obstacle, be it a building or hill.
"How do you regain visual?"
I think it's called an ILS, PAR, NDB or something along those lines.
"If the weather's that bad that you need to IF then it's probably going to be too bad to do the job when you get there."
Exactly! But people do go inadvertant IMC and end up not going home.
I don't have NVG experience but that isn't to say only the people who do, probably from the military, should advocate the use of them. As I said, the rear observer, yes, and it would help his role
"Can't see how NVGs would be a deficit in regards to flight safety."
You must be trying to wind me up!