I think we all remember the term: "sucker hole". A sucker hole can attract a pilot who wants to maintain visual reference, a short cut if you will from a long drawn out instrument approach.
consider: if this had been a minimum visibility takeoff ( I don't know comair's ops specs, but lets say 1/4 mile) the crew probably would have looked at the compass/dg etc. might even have had the localizer for 22 up.
If the takeoff had been done in full night, even in good visibility, the crew might have checked the compass.
But here the crew was above basic VFR with things brightening up minute by minute (though still dark).
There is a huge imperative to fly visually almost deep in ourselves. Witness how many people "duck" the glide slope after breaking out of an instrument approach. Witness how many landings at the wrong airport, even in planes with GPS and other goodies.
"Visual" flying is often easier and more efficent than instrument flying. However we must impress upon our fellow pilots effective discipline in this relm. (with proper cross checks of instruments, instruments on occasion can lie).
j