Both Petzl (first) and BD (notably after petzl changed theirs) saw the difficulty in releasing a locked auto block style plate/ tube belay device using the thin cord redirected to lever the device, and redesigned the release function. Now you can just use the nose of a carabiner to lever the device up to release the rope, and in the reverso 3's case do so quite easily. Your brake hand stays on the brake strand, and you just hook a biner in the release hole of the reverso and torque it using a biner in your other hand, with the spine of the biner in your hand. I have not tried the newer ATC.
I have already had to lower a second off an ice route, and it went very smoothly, and easily, with full weight on the rope (190 lbs hanging free) completely locked. So, I'm a believer, at least in the reverso 3.
Didn't have to re-rig anything, just pluck a Biner off your harness, good to go.
Great device.