To me, its the only way to do it. You do have to support the transmission, but pulling them out together is a paint scratching proposition.

In addition, when pulling them out together, you need a lot of ceiling height which some places don't have.

I unbolt the intake manifold, and have made a "lifter" whose pickup point is about 2" above the cam in the valley. I have had many engine changes over the years and don't even have to take the hood off.