Nugpot,
I've also done the procedure you mention on the CRJ. It has since been banned by the company - that was after the Namibian CAA refused to allow the procedure to be carried out in WVB.
I agree with not dispatching an aircraft with an APU that is U/S to a destination that doesn't have a COPCO. Planning ahead is what is needed. However,it seems, that in your and my case the APU failed to start and the only option was to carry out this procedure. That is of course what we are paid to do, think ahead and make the operation work!