Pithblot on page 1 is apparently the only pilot on this thread who has hand propped his plane, and is therefore very very aware of the hazards. Being a weak old woman, when my battery refused to inspire the starter, I put chocks under the wheels and asked a more experienced pilot to pull it through while I was safe in the cockpit.....and once had the honor of Derek Piggot propping GOFER for me...he insisted, though he is even older than I am, but in his career has pulled props through more times than most. A true gentleman!
You chaps should take a trip to Jack Brown's seaplane base in Florida. I got my rating there...we would slide the J3 Cub down the ramp into the water, prepare to release from the dock, and the instructor would step out onto the float and pull the prop through from behind! that really impressed me!
The whole course for the rating was tremendous fun, but they wouldn't let me fly it solo, you have to go and buy your own seaplane.