PPLvirgin, you sure have been brainwashed! I think you need to fly with a gnarly old instructor and ASK HIM TO COVER UP YOUR ASI!!!! If you have more than 20 hours solo, you will be pleasantly surprised that you can actually survive without being glued to the instruments.
India Four Two is plenty experienced or he wouldn't be a tug pilot. and he correctly weighed up the risks. If you are not actually flying in Instrument Flying Condition, even an average pilot can manage without most of them.
Do I need an ASI? no, not even on approach. three times flew with the pitot tubes taped up (my mistake, but no problem). And Altimeter? Cows get bigger. Trees look quite detailed. Radio up the duff? who needs a radio anyhow? GPS? follow the road. Or the shoreline.
The only thing that will spoil your entire day is meeting another aircraft which you fail to notice. Because you were fixing your attention inside the cockpit instead of outside.