Evolving restraints are a big thing in coaster development nowadays. For many people - and most coaster junkies - the old over-the-shoulder-harness (OTSH) or "horse-collars" are a literal pain. Even the smoothest coasters (which has actually more to do with the train (rolling stock) and wheels than the track) with these can have that unpleasant head-banging. I love the Hulk, but like on many such rides with those restraints I find myself concentrating so hard on not smashing my ears that I don't really enjoy the ride as much as I used to. Plus I often strain my neck while doing so.
Intamin (the manufacturer of VC) has been very aggressive in the past two decades when it comes to designing new restraint systems that free up the ride experience. Undoubtedly too aggressive at the beginning - but maybe we shouldn't go there, given the hesitancy some have about the ones on VC.
Personally, I think they're brilliant, and are as safe as OTSHs could ever be. An earlier Intamin coaster - Maverick at Cedar Point, which is extremely similar in many respects to VC - took a huge leap forward in comfort when they installed soft OTSHs - that is, all made of material, like big squishy belts, rather than steel with hard padding on it. But these are next gen, and probably the new standard for these type of rides.
Intamin's big rival, B&M (Hulk, Dragon Challenge, etc) has led the way in regards to minimal restraints on their traditional "sit-down" coasters, but those rides - many of which are amongst the best in the world - often don't have the extremes in terms of quickness and elements of a launched Intamin. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if B&M has ever installed a launch - the tires for the Hulk were actually designed in house, or so I've heard, when B&M demurred on handling that part of the ride.
Anyhoo - I think VC is a masterpiece, and probably the best coaster ever built in Florida.