EB... yes, there is a pull start cord. Ever Honda couldn't fuck that one up.
Crappy Tire has a charger on sale this week for $20. Worth a shot.
JtS... better from Honda... yeah, I woulda thought so too... especially for the price I paid. But, there were a number of reasons (features) I paid 3 times what I could have bought an el cheapo for. Still, the shit charging sustem really pisses me off.