Negative pitch
Use of submin in flight is not 'suicidal madness', it depends on the type and the flight condition you are in. Rapid entry to autorotation can use collective settings below MPOG to get a good split off, however you need to be aware of the rate of NR rise and adjust accordingly.
Both the Lynx and Merlin have collective settings below 'minimum pitch' that produce negative thrust to stick them on the deck.
As both are fitted with BERP blades the term negative pitch is slightly misleading as the blades have significant twist along their span and the pitch is measured at a nominal radius (some part of the blade is at positive AOA and some at negative AOA whilst at MPOG, however the resultant total thrust vector is zero).
As you drop the collective the torque will drop until minimum at MPOG then increase again as the bottom of the collective range is reached.
Given the stiffness of the BERP blade and the design of the MRH the lower flapping on these helicopters isn't a problem if the cyclic is positioned correctly.
DM