I have owned two different four-strokes and they are also very easy to hand start, if you do it right.

Because of the carb location, you can't finger choke them so I usually stop up the exhaust outlet while flipping to get the engine to pressurize the fuel tank which in turn primes the engine. You want the engine to make slurping sounds during the intake stroke indicating that it has plenty of fuel in the intake and the cylinder. Make sure that the fuel line to the carburettor is full of fuel.

Now close the throttle to idle or a slightly fast idle, this is very important, that's why I spelled it in bold letters, light the glow plug, and then give the prop a smart flip backwards, voila!! an idleing engine!