As far as the staff messaging you, or coming to you thing goes. I can understand times where a message can suffice, but sometimes I'll get a message, and I'll have a reply or another question, and have to page again.
I prefer staff coming and talking, and I don't think it's a problem. I think it also shows that they can take time away from what they're doing so they can assist you; that's always welcome.
I'll single Vulcan out, 'cause he answers a majority of my pages. He always comes to me within a decent period of time, and doesn't leave until everything is taken care of. And I appreciate that.
And for that person/people who attacked someone talking to a staffer -
What's the matter with you? It should be common sense to not touch a person if he's talking to a staffer. I don't care if it's a guild war, or you are PKing, it doesn't matter.
When someone is talking to a staff member, by all means, they should be safe. It sounds like Vulcan handled the situation pretty well considering the circumstances, I've staffed on plenty of servers and have had the same thing happen, and I can say that I would've done much worse
-Chinklomat