When I've automated restore processes, I've usually had access to msdb to retrieve the data directly. It sure makes things easier. Plus, we usually had standard drive configurations & folders, again, making stuff easier. If it's completely unknown and you have to go to this, you do have to hop through hoops inordinately.
"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