I wouldnt say the 180 deg turn is best ignored - it depends on the circumstances and the pilot's ability & experience.
If for example there is severe icing, you dont want to go climbing a helicopter with no icing clearance into it. Likewise if there is known traffic above you. But, if the pilot has little or no recent IMC experience, it may be more risky to try anything more than the simplest manoeuvres on instruments.
If you have had a chance to read CAP 780 aviation safety review 2008, and look at the helicopter statistics, you will see how prevalent are the words "poor weather" and "inadvertently entering cloud". It just goes to show how important it is for pilots, especially those without IR to be trained to recognise and respond appropriately to deteriorating weather conditions.