I don't understand this comment. The camera follows whatever focus point i'm looking. In fact from all my cameras my EOS 5 is the most "transparent" of all, in the sense that i can just forget the technical side and just shoot; since i don't even need to specify the focus point, and the metering is very reliable.
Contrary to your opinion, i find eye-controlled focus a great feature, since i seldom place the subject at center, and with other AF cameras (such my EOS 5D) i find slower to have to change the focus point depending on the shoot. Due to this, i prefer manual focus cameras!!
The EOS 5 is the camera i take to friends' weddings, since it's the quickest to operate camera i own. Not my favorite camera, of course, but very effective.
I don't remember any problem using eye controlled focus on vertical!! I'll do some tests to be sure, however.