I've been happily playing those files on version 3.0.2 of VLC. No problems. I just change the demuxer to H264 video demuxer, hit save, then drag the .264 file in to vlc and it plays no problem.
Yet so far every version since vlc can't play .264 files.
Why? I'm sure the dev's have changed something or else the files would still play if everything was left as it was.
Considering VLC is promoted on many webpages that it plays these .264 files I would have thought it would have been in the programmers interest to make sure it works?