Flown a variety of fast jets in several different Air Forces. When all is said and done, the VRIAB is part of a visual recovery procedure and that must be taken into account when discussions are made about exactly where the 'initial point' is. I am biased, but I believe we do know 'better than NATO' because in every other Air Force I have had the privilege of flying in, large formation visual recoveries end up being a rolling goat. In the RAF this is made to feel like a normal everyday occurrence even when it isn't. The majority (not all!) of NATO countries prefer a procedural recovery, usually under IFR. It works for them, what the RAF do works in their specific circumstances.