As with your inflatable vest, the CO2 bottle should only be used in a real emergency. The blow-out is pretty hard on the seams. The biggest concern you have is leaks (after not having enough pressure to inflate the vest or raft).

I wouldn't challenge the seams by using the bottle.

As for self-packing, aside from the skill issues of getting all the stull in in a way that will allow the raft to inflate, not damage itself and have the items in place -- there are certain liability and saftety issues ;^))).