What is this "nasty original 8052 reset method"?
A resistor and a capacitor which will eventually make you post here "my chip will not program" and you will be answered "require parallel programmer"

The only reliable way to handle the RST pin is with a supervisor (RSG) chip such as the MAX810/MCP810 (many flavors, the letters change).

Tying RST either way will result in no reset one way and permanent reset the other way

Erik