We can talk about it for hours, but really the VRS / SWP confusion is an "American debate" for a French pilot ...
The main difference between VRS and SWP is ... the understanding and the good use of abacus.
If you use the Abacus correctly it is impossible to go to SWP ...: ALWAYS you go to SWP with full power (and that's not enough ...)
If you use the Abacus correctly it is possible to go in VRS: Sometimes you reach the VRS conditions with a normal or weak power and inside the curves of the abacus ...
example:
You want to take pictures at 300 ft hovering: You check the abacus and they say : you have the power, to hold the stationary OGE: OK Do it ! If they say you do not have the OGE Hovering, (because of the OAT, the pressure. .. the load) and you still want to do it and get out of the abacus: It's an SWP.
You want to cross the Grand Canyon slowly to take pictures:
If you have the power and you can hold the IGE that hovers over the edge ... But if you are already in limit, and want to go over the edge, you pass OGE [B] above [/ B] Grand Canyon, you will lose hovering, it's a SWP .....
You make a vertical approach with average power, far from the limits, and the abacus says you have the power to hold the OGE hovering, without problems, BUT you let the rate of descent rise above 300 ft. minute: you CAN enter the VRS