Here's a simple fix for the whole "I'm anticipating having to really work to get the master cylinder off of the truck and am concerned about being under it while it is on the jack stands and pulling hard on a socket wrench." Get the MC loose before even jacking the truck up... there's plenty of room under these trucks with wheels on the ground...
but I agree with the others who say use jack stands to support the truck long term. Thats what I did when doing work under the truck
