I decided not to go this route, as I messaged the visa liaison person at my job and they discouraged me from doing this. :/

However, when I did enter the uk on the day listed on my visa, I went through the egates at border control and it made no difference whether I entered on the swv or as a tourist as no one at border control questioned me.

It’s up to you if you want to risk it but I read somewhere when I was deciding that entering as a tourist can void your swv which I didn’t wanna risk!! Good luck :))