VS CAN BE a killer ONLY when the "pilot" doesn't monitor the airspeed and adjust pitch with the selected VS rate to maintain speed appropriately. Other modes CAN get you in trouble too!
In some airplane/autopilot combinations (Westwind, Hawker and Lear in my experience) VS is the only vertical mode other than pitch hold that doesn't have a tendency to "hunt" all over the sky and feel like a rowboat riding the waves at times. This includes some of the digital/glass types too. Don't let the so-called "airspeed protection" of FLCH, FLC, IAS or mach hold modes tempt you to look away for too long! The more complex the mode, the more variables there are to catch you out.
They installed the ASI there on the panel for a reason. Whatever vertical mode chosen, airspeed is a RESULT and must be monitored at all times. I realize some pilots may be indoctrinated to, or have personal experiences which make them more comfortable in other modes, but VS mode bears no more responsibility for pilots failing to monitor their performance continuously than any other F/D mode. I don't believe it's wise to trust ANY F/D mode enough to justify inattention. With vertical and A/T modes like Vflch minding the store, modern history seems to have shown that pilots are even more likely to mentally "check out" of the control loop when relying on "protection" modes. VS or any other mode is only as "safe" as the pilot's oversight of it's performance.
I haven't seen this aspect of airplane operation argued about for quite some time now so thanks for the opportunity!
westhawk