Vince seemed to be on the right track with the low carb/high healthy fat idea - long before Dr. Atkins came along.
All of your body’s steroid hormones – including the gonadotropic ones – are cholesterol derivatives, so it makes sense that healthy fat sources (fish & olive oil, egg yolks, etc.) have a positive influence on your own natural hormone levels.
Vince also knew that consuming fats WITH carbs was a recipe for fat storage.
But, some of his dietary principles became less important with the increasing popularity of anabolics use.
These days, even advancements in research and some OTC supplements also make the job easier.
But, many of today’s successful diet plans – particularly for the natural trainer – have a strong base in Vince’s protocol.
You’re also right about the v-bars being far superior to the parallel ones – at least for chest activation. If you’re fortunate enough to have parallel bars that are at least a bit wider apart, you can position your hands on the butt of the handles, angling your knuckles inwards enough to simulate the v-bar grip.
JPM taught me that.
So long as your elbows are flaring out to the sides, you can get the right feeling. Larry Scott described it as imagining you're pulling/squeezing your elbows in towards the body. That, along with the concave body arch should provide the desired contraction.