I've vaped wax before. My friend recently got an O-Pen, and my "supplier" friend did a club run and got a cart for it. I don't really like the taste of weed in general, but I'm getting more used to it. I can say that I much prefer the taste/smell of herbs over wax. It also may have just been the wax my friend got, but I like the high of the herb I've had more than the vape. I like a head high over body high.
is there any scientific proof that vaping is safe in the first place?
There are a lot of case studies where vaping of any kind is leagues safer. The evidence is kind of in the premise itself. You aren't smoking weed from a chemical combustion when you vape, it's a temperature based cook, like a convection oven. Therefore, all the ash and "harmful" materials from the herb aren't entering your lungs.