Congratulations on expecting again!
I know you said this is the only VBAC doctor in your immediate area, but have you considered maybe expanding the area that you're willing to look in, or looking into other care providers like a family practitioner or midwife? I ask because even though your doctor 'allowed' VBAC, it's pretty risky to induce labor avoidably, especially in a VBAC mom. Induction often causes distress. In a normal, healthy pregnancy, your body is not going to grow a baby too big for you to birth normally (given the right evidence based care & support). Breaking the bag of waters commits you to delivery at that time with no turning back, so that if baby does show distress there's no cushion of water for protection or option of turning off medications (which often take hours to leave the body anyways, at which point if baby is under distress there's usually not that much time to wait, but still, ykwim). There's also ways to remedy low fluid levels as well, in case that becomes a concern again.
I had a homebirth after two cesareans & no previous vaginal births. He was 9 lbs 10 oz with both hands by his head, & I didn't even tear! Just two minor labial splits from his two hands where he sort of scratched me on his way out barely worth mentioning. I attribute this to being able to push instinctively & in an upright position. I have another friend who's had two natural VBA2Cs- 10 lbs 14 oz & 11 lb 12 oz. There's a great website called www.plus-size-pregnancy.org that has tons of VBAmC stories. The site is amazing & not just for plus-sized moms! I used to have a VBAmC FAQ sticky post with lots of info & birth stories (including a VBA3C mom who had a 13+ lb baby!) but stupid PW erases posts frequently *sigh*. Definitely check out www.ican-online.org. Congratulations & many blessings!