Yea, pretty much. Restoring the defined contexts is the appropriate method -- the policy modifications to make $service work should be well defined at the time

Yea, pretty much. Restoring the defined contexts is the appropriate method -- the policy modifications to make $service work should be well defined at the time of integration, never a surprise. If something is suddenly breaking because it needs to break a new policy, that's a problem with the processes being followed or the software; not SELinux.