It's human nature - no one wants to admit defeat - I remember a longgg day at Balikpapan when it had no aids with Merpati & Bouraq planes trying every 10 minutes to land in smog without success - they just kept on trying
the Tower can't see the what the pilot can see (especially in misty conditions) and so they leave it up to him
HE is the one with the rules about not busting altitude