Vladimir Builds and Role

Someone help me understand how Vladimir is played right now?

I'm looking at ProBuilds and I'm seeing a wide variety of builds. It does NOT seem like they are trying to max HP or AP exclusively. Instead, CDR seems to be the overdriving factor in the builds.

It seems that they always try to rush to 35% or 40% CDR as fast as possible (you will see that they either make a ton of CDR items, or make less but compensate either through Rune page or Masteries changes). Against AP match-ups they don't seem to mind going Spirit Visage first even though it doesn't give much AP. It seems that against AD opponents or in games where AD opponents are getting fed, they prefer to do Zhonyas first before defaulting back into Spirit Visage (maybe combining the Health with the amor to make a Pseudo-Tank while providing some AP). It seems that early DMP and Randuin buys are avoided probably because no CDR is given, though I suppose you could also go Zhonyas into Warmogs.

Now the issue is... why?

What exactly is Vlad's role in Top and Mid now? Is CDR maxed so that you can have Hemoplague up as often as possible for TP Ganks? Are you trying to damage people primarily with Q or E?

In fights do you try to dive the backline? What if you're forced to tangle with the front line?

It doesn't matter if you max Health or AP first so long as you get to 40% CDR with some combination that maximises your survival?

How do you play the new Vlad in team fights and what exactly is his role now?

Is Vlad better off in Top or Mid? As a midlaner, does he still bring enough damage to the table (now that you're sometimes doing SV first)? As a top laner, where is the utility?