Yes, plaster and longer screws are also a good option. That's what we did on 2 of the walls the last time we renovated a room with this type of wall. But then there was a bit more work with the moldings around the windows.
Claiming that it's a huge task to knock down the plaster and drywall, I think is an exaggeration. I myself tore down 2 walls, drywalled, and cleaned up in one workday, a good air purifier helps a lot.