i actually love both. strict form is amazing cause you can feel it so well. i do an UH WG row and a v bar row. and i love it. wouldnt do anything else.
i use the v bar as well. i used to do them with a straight back as i was pulling towards myself. but i have found it more beneficial to me to keep my back tight, and arched (picture arching the back PL bench press style, but sitting at the seated row.) i pull the V bar to about my belly button. this allows me to feel the entire lat flex, instead of the upper portion.
I lean forward too when I do seated cable rows. I like to lean forward and stretch the lats, then pull back hard, get a little momentum and contract the lats hard and fast, then repeat. Always get a good pump with these.