That guy's lucky there was a controller with flight experience. Very few US controllers have any flight training (I'd guess only 5-10%). We're only taught simple hints: if their engine quits, suggest changing fuel tanks; or if a VFR pilot encounters IMC, suggest fly straight and level.

The controller who spent two hours talking that guy down, good for him, but that kind of help will be rare. We're trained to give navigational assistance, but not to help a panicked pilot down. The blame is with whoever signed that guy off on his instrument ticket.