A tip about prying loose the half shaft from the diff:
Dont insert the tip of the screwdriver between the halfshaft and the bearing surface! Inseat, position the screwdriver so the shaft contacts the half shaft, and the tip is on something benign, like the diff case.
As for rolling the car up without half shafts: I once failed to torque my axle nut down tight enough, and it destroyed my wheel bearings with a trip around the block. The half shaft and axle nut keep the bearing races located.
If you just need to get the car on a trailer without turning the transmission et al, unbolt the drivershaft. If you need to get it on a trailer without spinning the diff, drop the pumpkin out. This can be done with 4 bolts, you don't even have to remove the knuckles (I've changed 4 sets of half shafts in 2yrs, and swaped pumpkins a dozen times).
Suspend the half shafts on a "cradle" made from a bungie chord or rope on both sides, so they can spin as you push the car without grinding on the lower control arms...or the ground.
Dropping the diff will probably take less time than dissasembly/reassembly of the rear suspenstion, that's what I'd do....don't wear anything nice.
I got my 36mm socket at Napa. It's simple, but may not be easy the forst time, depending on seized bolts. My bolts are nice ans mooth now, I can swap the diff and half shafts in my car in less than 1/2 hour (faster if I have some one working the trans).