I have always been a confirmed vertex modeler [having come over from Strata], I have been a 'point-puller' from Day One. One of the frustrations about the Vertex Window is that if Object A is in front of Object B, or partially obscurred, or inside, it's next to impossible to select it, much less just a few of it's vertices, without selecting and dragging facets of the other object. The other day I had the vertex object displayed in Wireframe, and lo!, I could access the points that I wanted. Just don't click directly on any unwanted points or polygon lines, and you won't disturb Object B. You may get a few extra points selected as you marquee, but hold the Shift Key and click on them until they go away. Then go back to Shaded View and keep working. The image shown is of a doorway molding around the entrance of a locomotive.