I think that to snap to a CV you need to have vertices visible on both curves (select both objects and go into component mode-F8) Then pick the point you want to move, push "v" and middle click from the vertex you want to snap-to to the vertex you want to move.
I also thought that maya snapping was a pain but it is growing on me...
Here is something I have not figured out though: how do you move a whole object and snap one of its vertices to anoder vertex?