and if the cluster fails? i've had to clean up a few disasters where a 'hard host' would have been great.
The whole cluster is dead? How did that happen? Worst case in an "all down" you boot up the first few ESXi hosts, direct connect in with the VIClient, import a DC (if needed..or find it), boot it up. Set it to auto boot. Same stuff you'd do with a virtual vCenter.