The power of VMS lies not just in it's kernel - how it schedules tasks, manages memory, etc. - but also in its system services, or what UN*X folks might call "libraries".
VMS provides a rich library of services for everything from I/O to the command language interpreter (CLI), namely, DCL. There are services for allocating memory, manipulating strings, interacting with the Job Controller, to mention just a few.
Now, you could "re-invent" these wheels in every program you write, just the way UN*X forces you to do. Or, you can use what's already there and save your ingenuity for the really difficult parts of your programming tasks.
In the long run, however, you're better off mantaining consistency with other VMS software by using system services.
Many will argue that this makes your program "VMS proprietary" or "non-portable". There is some truth to the argument. On the other hand, if you design your program carefully and make it modular, then you can code your own CLI, DBMS, etc. for those systems where they are not part and parcel of the operating system, and still maintain source-code compatibility across multiple platforms.
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