You are talking about a completely different kind of scuttle.

I have a Dirtybird scuttle, and it is perfect.

There are no holes in the bowl, because you don't want them there. You fill the outer scuttle up with hot water and that heats the inner bowl. The inner bowl is where you make you lather and keep your lathered brush.

The type of scuttle you are describing is more of the old fashoined type. The brush is immersed in the hot water in the bottom of the scuttle, correct? Doesn't that water down your lather? Why not just get the hot water from the tap?

From Classic's website:
This traditional style of shaving scuttle became popular before the turn of the 20th Century when most homes did not enjoy hot running water. The bottom chamber of the scuttle was filled with hot water from the kitchen stove and carried to the bedroom shaving stand for use. After dipping the brush into the water in the bottom chamber it was then used on the soap cake held in the perforated soap dish on top to produce a lather. The perforations allowed excess water to drain back into the lower chamber preventing the soap from becoming softened. Still a practical method of maintaining adequate hot water at hand for the shave without having to waste water and energy by continual running.
Really, I encourage you to try one of Ditybird's standard scuttles. The new type of scuttles that maintain hot lather are what all the fuss is about. Not the old fashoined ones designed to transport hot water from kitchen to bathroom.