Vec - I used to fly at night without goggles - above 500' with any letdown being a very interesting procedure without nightsun or similar bright light source. Now, with goggles, it is just like day flying except the world is green and you have a limited field of view. It is so much safer, quicker and easier flying on NVG which is why we do it, not only for pure overland stuff but for cliff letdowns and for collision avoidance over the sea at night - it's just better! Any crew going to a winching situation overland at night is going to need goggles to get there safely and expeditiously, even if they do the winching itself on white light.
SARREMF - I know, flexibility...it's the key to something or other...