Some of my early attempts at starting diesels were with donated Frog and ED engines. They always had a tendency to bite you no matter how carefully you applied prime, even with the piston closing off the port. (I'm very much familiar with the technique, I've run Cox engines for 45 years). That, to me, was a result of excess, liquid prime, hard to precisely control, giving you a good measure of pre-ignition. Yes, you back off on the compression but then the fussy little beasties would refuse to light off. Only if you allowed it to bite you could you get them to run off a prime and then as they warmed up, they would behave more user friendly.

Both of you are correct though, and I agree that in experienced hands, starting a purpose built diesel, by hand, can be readily accomplished. But not all diesels are created equal. One might not embrace glow conversions but they ARE diesel engines if they run on diesel fuel. Small Norvels will not easily hand start on glow and are impossible to hand start on diesel fuel. Too much cylinder taper.

The point was, and I exaggerated for effect, using a starter in a diesel is not a problem and can make it all so much easier to the newbie, IF they use and understand the technique outlined.