Oh, I didn't even think of him. He died five years after the POD, I guess I forgot him.
Well, I don't know how worse he could be than Nicholas "Let me imprison thousands as soon as everyone calms down after the Revolution" Romanov. We don't even know if he was the one who ordered to shoot on the protesters in Bloody Sunday.
Nicholas wanted to punish the officials who caused Bloody Sunday - Vladimir pressured him to let the most important one stay.
Nicholas gave away 4 million acres of crown lands to be distributed to peasants as part of the Stolypin reform - Vladimir was trying to stop him all the way.
Nicholas created a weak Constitution - Vladimir was outraged at the idea of having any kind of constitution.
Basically, every time Nicholas did something bad, Grand Duke Vladimir was advising him, pressuring him, or at least cheering him on. Every time Nicholas did something even slightly good - Vladimir was there to protest against it and make threats. His personal and political flaws were massive, even in comparison.
When people talk about saving the Russian Empire, they usually remove Nicholas II as the first step. But I think even Nicholas would have had a decent chance, if Vladimir and his other 3 uncles were removed by a permanent vacation or tragic accident.