I would agree in for most folks, but that's why I qualified it with the comment about asset protection (and it's relevant for folks already stuck in a VUL product). That's particularly true for high-worth individuals and folks in occupations likely to be sued. For example, here in Texas (also Florida and Oklahoma) there is a virtually unlimited protection from judgments and creditors in products like whole life, VULs and annuity products. Taxable brokerage accounts are vulnerable to being seized here, though.
If asset protection was a major concern to me, the VA might make some sense once other protected accounts like IRAs and 401Ks were maxed, but I don't think VUL *ever* does. Plus at least a low cost VA is a reasonable "escape hatch" for those already trapped in "VUL Hell" as Lisa is.
(Having said that, for estate planning under the estate tax exemption limits, there aren't many better deals than the step up in basis for appreciated stock that you get from stocks held for a long time in an ordinary taxable account.)