That is probably less work since you are only wiping a little mess each time. I would be spending an hour to scrub mine because I have never cleaned it down to the bare metal since I bought it. I just toss the trays and fat catcher tray in the dishwashers.
I seasoned my fry basket the same way that one would do a cast iron skillet. It did require a small amount of disassembly, and reassembly, but after doing the seasoning process (baking it in the oven @ 275° F caked in oil-soaked salt for 30-45 minutes, repeat as needed), I can just wipe mine out with a paper towel. The grease tray I wash each time, but that's just cause I don't want my fries to taste of fish.