Update:

I didn't have a stoke or a stroke (yet). I may have pulled a few muscles in my back, but I realized the 2 screws in front of the rear heat assembly mentioned in the instructions were NOT the 2 screws in the sides of the storage area, rather they were the 2 screws on the hinge mechanism for the console lid. I had ASSumed those were for the hinge itself, but nooooooooo. Wrong again

Anywho, I removed those 2 screws and was able to pry out the rear heat assembly. It's too late in the evening for me to get into trying to finish this project, but I still see wires attached to the assembly. I'm going to ASSume the rear cupholder mechanism will come out as well, leaving the rest of the console free to move up and out? It would be great if anyone who's done console work could take a picture of the rear of the console after it's been removed, along with pics of the other rear parts. I've got so many screws laying around.... sheesh....

Still open to any suggestions or tips. Thanks.

Marc