[Baalz]

Well, yeah, as others have pointed out you need to fail a MR check for it to take effect, so would you prefer to be mind hunted? MR fail = insta death. Ah, but you can counter that by having an astral mage present...well, you can counter Vengence of the Dead with effective chaff killer stuff like a strong fire shield, trampling, the ageis... or script returning, or having access to cleansing water. There's lots of times where MR fail = you're screwed, and VotD is only terribly effective in a handful of situations.