In 55 years of diesel flying, I've never used an electric starter for any engine, diesel or glowplug.  This includes such notorious engines as the Bambi, K Vulture and Drone diesels as well as Dooling 29 and McCoy 60 racing glows in speed models.  I don't even own a starter.  However, I have benefited from the use of electrics by others, since after the engine breaks I acquire it dirt cheap and simply make a new shaft, rod or whatever to get it going again! 

A properly fitted diesel (and even many improperly fitted ones) should not require the use of a starter.  If it does, there's something wrong (often a loose piston/cylinder fit or a base compression leak).  And if you keep using a starter, sooner or later it will break. You may get lucky for a while, but it just takes one error in priming or choking. 

There are also some engines which will be seriously damaged by a starter even if they don't break right away. The E.D. Bee and Hornet are cases in point - the only restraint upon rearward movement of the shaft in those models is the crankpin bearing upon the disc valve.  Use a starter, and the disc valve will quickly be toast!  There are many other examples ............