99% of private pilots do not have an instrument qualification - so promising as a climb to MSA appears it is simply not a viable option for the vast majority of private pilots.
Probably more like 40-50% of US "private" flyer's (i.e. those flying for fun, regardless of licence type) have an IR, and a good proportion of UK private flyer's have an IMC rating as a minimum.
This video was made in the USA, and these idiots were flying a more than capable aeroplane in IMC so I'd assume one held and instrument qualification and that they just didn't / couldn't get an IFR clearance. Which brings one more point - rules. If I was in that situation, screw the rules, I'd just climb, even if it meant busting airspace.
178 seconds is effectively referring to "no gyro" - or someone who has no idea how to interpret them. I'd imagine a PPL who has a working AI would probably stand a better chance of survival above MSA than scud running in valleys at 100 kts.