The Vulcan handles like a big fighter, which encouraged enthusiastic early demonstration flying. A heavy price was paid for this eventually.
Victor pilots looked at that high T-tail and wisely thought better of it, although with all that thrust at light weight it probably would have performed equally well. It just was never quite tested to destruction in the way the Vulcan was.
Avro seemed better able to engage with Government than Handley Page post WW2 so I agree, the Vulcan probably always had the inside track.