Years ago while getting my license, I listened carefully to the instructor trying to explain VRS and SWP. It seemed then, and still does, that SWP should just be amended to SWEP, and stand for "settling without enough power". No spooky and weird response to any of the control inputs. I just tried to pull pitch to stop a descent and even though more pitch helped, as I kept pulling I ran out of power and thus rpm.
The few times I tried VRS with the instructor in a 44 were plenty, and did convince me never to get there. We were in a different state, the controls didn't work, and more pitch DID NOT HELP up and until and past where I ran out of power. I like vertical ring STATE because it is like you and the machine are in some strange and bad place where controls don't work.
VRS= more pitch doesn't help
SWEP= more pitch helps until you run out of power.
That seems simple to me.