I am just curious as to why someone would be scared to remove both axle shafts.
I own a repair shop and have been wrenching for 20+ years now and have NEVER had a problem having both shafts out at once.
We do at minimum 2-3 clutch/trans axle jobs a week plus numerous halfshaft replacements.
I have never seen a transaxle come to the shop new or used with one axle hanging in it. We have never had the trans shop tell us to leave a shaft in when we bring one to be repaired.
I couldn't begin to think about what a nightmare some of these jobs would be if you didn't remove both shafts, especially on some awd units.