I've had a bad week that just keep getting worse

To start off, last Tuesday, I'm late for a school function so I hop in and take off, only to observe my car's leaving a trail. Pull over, and it's already got a red puddle underneath it. Yup, its leaving a drizzle of AFT everywhere I go. So I got it parked back in the lot at work (first picture) and trailered it home last weekend.

I'm thinking its the rubber ATF cooler lines, but nooooo.. my week is worse that that.. it looks like someone crimped the ATF cooler hardline with the support next to the passenger side of the oil pan, and now it's worn through and started leaking there (second picture). I'll verify its really leaking there tonight, and not just dripping off the low point, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

Near as I can tell, that hardline line connects up on the top of the transmission somewhere, which means I'm not going to be able to replace it until next summer at the earliest (dirt and gravel drive, low point, puddle, 9-month rainy season starting).

So, I've got a couple of questions I'd really like some input on:

First question -- is it possible to replace that hardline without removing the transmission? That's my preferred solution, but at the present looks like it's not doable that way.

Second question -- is patching the hardline using a sleeve of transmission cooler line and a half dozen hose clamps a viable solution? Is standard transmission cooler line acceptable for this -- something like this line from NAPA which is rated for +135C constant?

Thanks for any advice, commiseration, kibitzing, etc.

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