Hey oppositelock,
I pulled mine out the typical way - carefully, with some tugging and prying. Took time to "wake it up" and get it to move. You are correct that you do not want to score the shaft or anything else for that matter. That would not be good.
The new one went in by tapping it in with a large socket. If I remember, I also replaced the rubber o-ring seal.
(That was the first time - second time, I had RS Barn do it. They also replaced the oil pump race, which had a groove and was causing a leak. I was happy to not be on my back trying to yank that thing out. Probably took Max about 10 minutes.....).
Best of luck.
-Scott