Sounds like you have it covered. Lock escalation occurs, but I don't find it's a common thing. If you're doing the type of data load that's going to benefit from what's considered non-standard behavior within SQL Server, you're best served by taking direct control of that process.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning