The "bootable" flash drive sounds useful, but the old fallback of running DW from a bootable volume still seems like the best idea.

As long as you've got a bootable external drive there's never been any need to buy a new disc to boot a new Mac.

Am I missing something?

The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire