Just did this on my '03 wagon with manual HVAC. For info here, the "Shortcut method" as I can see is about not removing the dash, but you can remove the duct cover or the whole front duct. I took notes from the Vortex thread and removed the two metal dash support struts (to the left and right of the duct). This allowed me to remove the entire front duct without messing with the seven clips at all. So, in a nutshell (and the order IS important in some cases):
Remove rear ash tray trim, trim strip above front ashtray, unbolt armrest, and remove center console
Unscrew glove box (after center console)
Pry off fuse cover, left dash end, and unscrew driver footwell trim
Pry off HVAC trim, extract radio, and unscrew black dash center frame (after glove box and driver footwell trim is removed).
Unbolt steel side supports
Remove two screws holding front duct to main duct (my screws were 6mm hex).
Clip zip-tie holding HVAC wiring to duct on right
Reach from right side over duct and disengage top clip. Tight hand space from glove compartment area.
Pull duct out/down and to the side to disengage bottom clip
Remove duct out the bottom
Repair doors
Separate duct halves with the seven clips (very hard or impossible to reinstall in one piece)
Reinstall front section, taking care to get the top clip over the main duct while engaging the bottom clip.
Install two retaining screws
Clip outer duct cover in place, starting with the upper clips. Get them positioned but not fully snapped in and work you way down each side, only fully snapping them closed when the following ones are aligned properly.
Put the rest of the stuff back.