What I found was the recommendation to drain by removing the lower radiator hose. This sounds pretty messy to me.

Years ago, and many cars ago, I installed one of the "Back Flush" taps in the heater hose to flush the cooling system. Here I figured this was an improvement over draining and then filling and draining several times to get an almost complete change in coolant. So, I am thinking I will install a Back Flush. Any advice? What am I overlooking?

At times past, draining the cooling system through the little valve on the bottom of the radiator was a chore and took a long time. Several people found it was much faster and gave a more complete drain to disconnect the bottom radiator hose. Make sure you relieve the coolant pressure first!

Automotive manufacturers saw this as a cost saving boon. Leaving that little dohickey off the radiator eliminated losses from broken and/or manfunctioning drain valves. Professional auto shops were draining the radiators by hose removal anyway.

From the end-user perspective:
1) I am concerned about wear-and-tear on the lower hose on earlier leaks there - suppose with a 5 year flush interval one should expect to replace the hoses on the second change anyway.
2) I read a discussion elsewhere that raised, even when using the lower hose removal method, the issue of the thermostat blocking drainage. Are these real concerns? With the drip-along spigots of the past I never noticed any reduced flow as the flow rate didn't overtax the air bleed-through,or whatever is needed. I of course have the radiator filler cap off.
3) Is there any support for the installation of a "reverse flush" in the heater hose? I have used this many years ago, and didn't have any problems, but I have not continued to use it in the past 20 years of car ownership.

I just have to wait for some warmer weather.