I've used a fairly low-tech approach to cover removal on all the humbucker-equipped guitars I've owned. I score the soft solder joint several times with a utility knife until I can break the connection with gentle prying. Takes about two minutes, and the cover can be snapped back on again and it will hold tight.
I KNOW its been covered before, but can somebody enlighten me with the latest thinking on what difference taking the covers off humbuckers makes to the sound. I'm a tinkerer, and the weekend is coming up ;-)