Sam,
Wow, what a guy! You really CAN find your nuts with both hands!
Interesting observation regarding the driveshaft. Before I upgraded to forged, permanently greased U-Joints, I was able to R&R the driveshaft with the diff in place. I had the original posi replaced with a Truetrac and changed to 3.27 FMS gears, put the diff back in the car and then was unable to get the driveshaft back in without removing those two front bolts and dropping the front of the diff again. Not sure why...less movement in the U-joints? Slightly longer pinion shaft? Not as deep in the case? Dunno...
You mention removing the nuts from the two front bolts. What # car do you have? My car has the "nuts" as part of a threaded tube on each side which are also braces for the mounting tabs. There's an article or thread somewhere: SCOF or CC, regarding a relatively simple mod for bracing these mounts, but I think you'd at least have to be able to get up in there with a MIG gun, which means dropping the punkin. I had some question or another for Mike Evangelo and he specifically mentioned doing this since I had it out already, but my car came that way.
Also on SCOF is a photo tutorial on installing a drain plug. Not that you'd need the instructions but it's a good idea, especially since you have the cover off.
And yeah, I'm accumulating a box of specially-made tools for my car, too.
Thanks for letting us know what you found out.
Lowell