topend,
Your post makes perfect sense. let me add:
VRS is not a state where the rotor is dead, and where up collective makes you go down faster - more mythology.
It is a place where the rotor gives fits and jerks, and where it needs much power to develop the lift you need. In full blown VRS, the actual power to keep you from falling can be considerable, perhaps 20 to 50% more than it was a few seconds earlier. Pilots then translate this into "pulling power makes the helo go faster downward." If you have enough power, there is not state where you cannot pull collective and climb out. Most turbine helos with no payload are at that condition.
Why does it feel better to lower the lever and go down? Because VRS is almost at windmill brake state, so a bit more descent and you are a nice clean autorotation, where the lurches are gone, and a fly-away feels so nice.