My setup is an MC6000 with two basic CDJ’s (old American Audio CDI500s) hooked up. It’s primarily to give me some extra flexibility in the cases you mentioned, but in no small measure do I have them in case of a laptop crash. Hit play on the CD, flip the fader and off I go. Sorting out the PC business in relative quiet, rather than having everyone on the floor looking at me and waiting for the music to start back up.
The explorer trick should work in most software though, so if you are in a tight spot, by all means use what’s available.
Greetinx,
Chuck