Even on steam driven gear won't your rmi show flags when the ndb drops out and point 090/270?
Agree on the only requirement being to listen below lsalt or passing the iaf...
Even for the tracking After reaching topd wouldn't you be tracking on gps?
You could of even been tracking dr... Nothing stopping you flying approaches ifr in vmc...
Had a few renewals where I have been told to "turn off that god aweful noise" one of those times being a Cp check (yes it was 8/8's bluesky) so if your mate is telling the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth feel he might of been screwed a little...