From what I’v heard, those hot plates are pretty nice to have as it does provide even heat. I don’t have one quite yet but my Porter Cable heat gun does do the job as I heat up sections of the back glass rather than the whole back at the same time to avoid burning myself and it’s easier to grip.
It’s all a matter of preference really. If it’s your personal device, why not give it a shot? If you damage it, well you won’t have to worry about dealing with an unhappy customer. Good luck!
And as a quick tip, don’t use metal tools to remove back glass. I just use one to get under the glass if possible then use either playing cards or the ifixit guitar picks.