Should I pair the VPS with the Front End Dashboard?

The two are designed to complement each other. The VPS is where the engine runs; the Front End Dashboard is how you control it from the browser.

If you would rather not manage catches over SSH — submitting domains, monitoring drops and reviewing results by hand — put the engine on the VPS and drive it through the dashboard remotely. You get the low-latency Slough node doing the catching and a clean web interface for operating it.

The dashboard is a separate subscription (£18/month), but for many people the combination of fast node plus remote control is the most practical way to run the setup.