Another Wizard fan here
I do the same as Anne and sow direct in late autumn, then generally walk away and leave them to it. I don't even put any supports in, so they are pretty faff-free
Our site also suffers with broad bean rust. They get a touch of it, shrug it off and carry on.
The pods and beans are smaller with only 3-4 beans in each, but they grow in clusters and you get loads per plant. Even in a tough year like this one, I got a crop. Not as bountiful as I have had, but still way better than other plot holders growing standard broad beans.
My seeds are also saved year to year. I got them from another forum member on here, but they had saved seeds that originally came from Real Seeds.