Cazatou,
You were once an Andover pilot. I know, I have flown with you.
If the only safe option was a climb to leg or route MSFL we could never have flown in Scotland, because most of the time we were unable to achieve those heights after an engine failure. We got round the problem by breaking up legs, working out safe escape headings at critical points on the route and using the bicycle chain method of working out revised (lower) SALT's.
On this particular flight the crew did not need to do this because they had the option of hover and turn round.
It is not essential to be able to achieve route MSFL as long as you have a viable safety plan.
Remember the Drift Down and Stabilisation Graphs in the ODM.