You can pull plugs in a pontoon and rather well with a little practice. It isn't quite as a easy as in a DB but you can do it. The key is long pontoons with a fairly big diameter. Not one of those little Water Skeeter jobbers (I have one but don't use it to pull plugs).

If your primary objective is to pull plugs, a pontoon may not be your best option, but if you are looking for something to get out on your own, cover a lot of water and pull plugs here and there, then a pontoon is great.

I think the effort of getting the pontoon ready and on and off the water, is less of a barrier than a DB.