The main reason I didn't swap the compressor when I went through mine recently was because I think I still have shadetree-PTSD from getting to the couple bolts that go through the compressor into the fan bearing/ bracket last summer while I was working on that part.
I was willing to throw in some refrigerant and risk needing to do that again somewhere down the line to avoid digging that thing out. Lil buddy is IN there, and I used new types of flexible extensions and probably some new swear words, too, on just those two bolts last time.
