This is just my opinion: I would not cut it off. It will come loose with the other methods. DO NOT HIT IT HARD AND DO NOT HIT IT ONLY IN ONE PLACE. Tape up or sleeve the spindle if you are afraid of nicking it. I think we used to use the hub by catching the inside lip of the hub on the backside of the race and yank outward? (Slide hammer), But that is when I was young and dangerous.

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn