From an intellectual standpoint, I totally agree with you both that the services should start automatically... every time...
Unfortunately, I've just inherited this "mess" and the 4 of the 5 servers are in either Europe or Asia... It's the one in Sydney and another in Norway that have been creating the grief. I'd love to have the luxury to rebuild the servers to my specs but I don't... Maybe some company trips are in the horizon for me...
I'll the enclosing the services in "quotes"
Cheers,
Rudy