If you decide that it makes the most sense to destroy the rubber gasket... it only takes a few minutes to remove the glass. You'll need 2 tools: a utility knife, and a friend. This method applies to the one-piece rubber gasket. Don't know about the rubber and chrome variety.
The utility knife should be one of the designs that has the long one-piece blade. The type of blades where you break off the segments to refresh the blade's sharpness. I think Olfa makes this design, but Stanley Tools may offer this too. Let me know if you need a pic of this design for confirmation.
The gasket is an 'H' shape extrusion. Extend the blade to its full length, and lay it basically parallel, or flat to the glass. From the outside of the car, shave off the rubber that protrudes above the glass... but leave the 4 corners of the gasket until last. This will keep the glass in place until you are ready. You don't want the glass falling inward, prematurely, of course. Now, have a friend sit in the driver's seat and support the windshield as you trim off the top two corners. He can gently push and release pressure on the glass as you trim off the remainder. The glass panel should just swing forward and upward, now. If you left a bit of rubber at the lower two corners, that should help give you a 'hinge' during glass removal, and help protect the glass. You may want one more friend to help take the glass from the body, once you have wiggled it loose. Just to be sure it doesn't get dropped and damaged. Poof, you're done.
I've done a couple of these removals (5-10 minutes to complete, once you have everything in readiness). I've never replaced the glass, so I won't offer any advice there. That job goes to a windshield wizard, since I could only do bad things, there!