I see no real problem with landing downwind as such - it's a tool at our disposal that is low on the list, that's all. Nobody's forcing anyone to land into wind, either, but you can still get the job done as long as you realise what you're doing, as someone mentioned before. Having said that, it should not be attempted without being taught properly - it was standard on my Army course.
Faced with a vertical climb over trees to stay into wind, or clear access (especially for emergency vehicles) and a downwind takoff, I have often chosen the latter. Sometimes you have no choice on a log pad hanging off the side of a mountain - just make sure you ain't heavy and you have an escape route
phil