I have no problem carrying a 'c' model. Sure, its a possibility you could get burned and as VolGrad pointed out, so what. Unless you're shooting people in CQB everyday, I wouldn't worry about it. I have shot the 'c' models at night, there isn't any more flash from them, its just in a different pattern. It doesn't blind you.
As I haven't shot a 19c yet, I cannot comment on how it compares to a regular 19 and if its necessary. I have had both a 32 and a 32c and in the 357 Sig round, the 'c' is more controllable.