I have taken my pad out several times as well. No need to remove those pieces. The end pieces have the metal tabs.
Pretty sure the radio pieces do not need to be removed to pull the dash pad.
Although Don has the pieces removed in this video and the radio is out, there are no screws for the dash pad behind those pieces, just two straight up in front of the radio as he shows.
This is a fairly easy job which can be done in about ten minutes once you know what you are doing. No need to add complication.