Original Message

Retired 5 years ago, but at that time, unfamiliar scene landings required a s-l-o-w vertical descent from an altitude above the surrounding obstacles. My opinion is and was that that is the second worst of all approaches after smoking fast approach and a hard flare to touchdown.

Yes, that slow vertical would mean you encountered unseen obstacles with no movement over the ground to 'snag' wires, posts, etc. But it also limited your vision underneath the aircraft where the potentially unseen obstacles would almost certainly be an increased hazard to you and yours.

I prefer to have a little yaw away from the intended landing and approach path to allow me (pilot) maximum possible visual until I had to bring the tail around to clear obstacles or for landing.

Takeoffs were essentially opposite- a vertical to an height that cleared obstacles and then accelerate. No problem with that as it provided an assurance that I had power to depart clear of obstacles. But it wasn't much help is you had to leave downwind. Yes, that is required sometimes.