Steve76,
You are right mostly, and sometimes not. The aircraft will not fall out of the sky if you take off downwind, and it can be perfectly safe. In fact, it can be perfectly safe to take off vertically, and tell the wind that you just don't care. Lots depend on the power margins and options available. I think our military brothers who fly attack helos or medevac can relate to those times when hovering downwind and shooting, or landing downwind and pcking up injured was the only way to do the job.
The idea behind this "urban myths" thread was to spark the value judgments that allow us to discuss these optons, and open the debate where the maneuver envelope of the helicopter is understood, and used when necessary.