I don't think there's going to be a good shortcut beyond trying to solve the problem in more detail.
The solution above assumes that ALL of the heat going into that pipe is transferred by conduction down the length of that pipe to points unknown. But in order to show that is a reasonable approximation, you'd just about have to solve the more general problem.
Example: Suppose the pipe is only 1' long beyond the heater. Then conduction out the end is very low, and the assumption made above is off. If the pipe is short and convection/radiation losses are low, then in fact, the entire pipe ought to be about the same temperature.
Or, if convection and radiation losses are very very large, then the temperature a foot away ought to be near ambient.
The real case will surely be somewhere in between. You should be able to include convection, radiation, and transient effects and still be able to solve either analytically or numerically by spreadsheet. (Perhaps a mathcad problem once you set up the differentical equations)(and even then, the solution is fairly approximate due to uncertainties in convection rates, assuming 2-d flow when it's 3-d, etc). Don't forget to check temperature differential within the heated portion- to get the ends of the heated part that hot, the center will be hotter.
I'm assuming you have checked into the metallurgy end of this first. Also that you know your heater can handle that temperature (should be glowing a good red at that temp if I recall).