Thanks for the offer David, I may take you up on it just yet. But I found this thread last night:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=84056
Somehow I overlooked this thread in my previous searches. It looks like my idea can work after all and isn't exceedingly dangerous, as a few individuals have already done it before with no problem. I think I will use the free hook compressors from Autozone as a safety, but it would appear that the spring only has 3 or 4 inches of travel beyond the fully-extended position with the LCA hanging prior to disconnecting the strut, so at that point it is almost fully unloaded.
I am attempting to repair
THIS. I will give it a try in a couple of weeks and will attempt to document with pics and a writeup. If I have to resort to a spring compressor you will hear from me.