Yep - exactly. I finally got around to tackling this again, and I removed the window shade panel, and found a screw hidden behind it holding the panel to the door. Once I took it off, the panel came right off. From the outside, it doesn't look like the shade mechanism had anything to do with the door panel, but this is what was preventing me from removing the panel all along. Thanks for the recommendation to take it off.

pry out door trim with trim tool
pry out window switch and bottom light with trim tool--disconnect wires
pry open airbag label to remove screw
remove door panel screws--3
detach clips around the outside of the trim with trim tool
unclip door panel at the top using plastic tool to pry up and away from glass
pull the door panel upwards
disconnect wire to radio speaker
raise your arms in victory

Those instructions are for the front panels - I was struggling with the rear, which doesn't get pulled upward as step 7 of your instructions describe. Once I got the panel that holds the window shade off (sure wish I had known about this before I started this job - I wouldn't have destroyed my panel if I had), and removed the screw behind it, the panel pulled out very easily without any need to pull up on it.