Look at the good side, you get to see what the condition of your clutch parts, throwout bearing and pilot bearing is as well as the trans linkage grommets if you take it out separate. I have never removed the engine WITH the trans and I have taken many engines out. I got in the habit because in the salvage yard when pulling them, it was much easier to just jack one side off the ground and drop the trans first than removing rad support, etc, etc. With the trans gone, you don't have to remove anything but maybe the hood. Takes longer though.
