I don't find removing the turbo a hassle at all. It just takes a few times to learn all the little directions of attack and movements you can get with a 17mm wrench. I've removed/installed the turbo on my TD about 8 times now for different reasons. Each time it was much less hassle.

Last wendsday in a scrapyard, I pulled a bad turbo off a '79 SD in less than 2 minutes. I was getting the non-EGR manifolds off of it.