My own experience (sim exercises only) makes me conclude that there is no right answer here.
I personally view this on a case by case basis
Wholeheartedly agree. Because of the nature of the beast (emergency descent and a fair amount of adrelenin) especially in IMC, it is all too easy to overbank and overcontrol while dropping the nose for rapid descent especially with flight spoilers deployed. A straight ahead descent does not require negative "G" at all - rather like a TCAS RA descend command. In terms of dark night IMC on instruments, straight ahead may be the lesser of two evils.