I think we have slightly different views on the Vertex, though I agree there's an element of "fate" entwined. ^^;In my eyes, the ASC/DSC axis are those traits within the physical arena - and the Vertex/Antivertex is our spiritual arena.
The spiritual disposition of a natal (vertex), and what compliments them spiritually, what they draw in, and seek, or otherwise need (antivertex)
The most powerful synastry experience I had has his Vertex axis cnj my S-N node axis (His Vertex my 4th house cnj my Venus-South Node, and Antivertex 10th house cnj Vesta-North Node) His North Node while not conjunct was in the same house as my Antivertex (and vs/vs with that)
Since vertex axis is not given a set position in the houses, (no ruler sign or planet by traditional order), like Asc-Dsc has with Aries-Mars and Libra-Venus 1st - 7th, the house position makes them all the more important. To me, they can be viewed like "the windows to the soul" in a sense. So when you click with a person - their personality meshes with yours, that would come down to ASC/DSC - but those times that you click with a person who may not have the same physical draw - there could be a natural spiritual camaraderie- the meeting of like spirits instead of like minds...
I find that most of my closest friends, relatives, and acquaintances, as well as more than half of my past relationships shared some contact directly to this axis. My husband has his Mars there. My Karma is cnj his Antivertex (his axis is on his ASC/DSC axis). our 1st houses/7th houses...
My vertex cnj my son's DSC node - My son's Vertex cnj my South Node -
My little brother's vertex is cnj my ASC node - My vertex is cnj his Venus - and North Node wide... My antivertex is cnj his Moon~ lol
and the list goes on...
the alternating nodal contact in my family especially - well... it's kinda' creepy, actually...
I have Vertex node contacts with several residents of the board here.. ^^;
now that... that I think is kinda' cool! lol
XD
I have 5th house Aquarius vertex node at 5°
Uranus is conjunct Venus-South Node in 4th house Sagittarius.
0* conjunctions - Ptah Phoinix Shulamith Actor Sayo-hime Lachesis Eleutheria Iris Balios Patientia ...etc.. 8* Pallas
11th house antivertex node/E.Point, Leo -
Sun is in 5th house Capricorn
0* conjunctions - *Azmidiske* Louhi Sarita Ursula Orcus Vellamo Leviathan ...etc... 8* Chandra & Angel