RVLs on land were done on the Harrier, they let you use shorter strips amongst other things. What the F35B brings to the game is the ability to do them on a ship reliably. An example of use is bringing back weapons in hot conditions when you don't have enough thrust for the vertical landing (It's expensive jettisoning £100K wepaons so you can land)
Whilst Dave Morgan probably did the first SBRVL in 1982, the Indians have done them in SHARs too.