RW&B
The concept of a towering take off using the coupled functions of the autopilot, or not, to gain a visual horizon above a thick blanket of fog would not conform.
So it would appear the commander may have been so concerned in "conforming" that he lost the plot.
Perhaps it would have been better to not "conform" and do the towering take off using the coupled functions of the autopilot at his discretion instead.