See my comments in the prior step. With the shaver head removed, NO clips need to be broken, or pried.

Your assertion that this trimmer is intentionally hard to open is completely false. You're simply doing it wrong.
Fact is, this generation of the trimmer is EASIER to open up than the previous generations, IF you know how...

The key to opening this trimmer is to remove the pivoting head at this stage, by pressing the two pivot pins out to the sides, until the heads protrude about 1mm. Then carefully lift the pivot out of the head, making sure you don't lose either of the two small metal clips that are on either end, or dislodge the hair springs that remain in the base of the pivot.

Having removed the pivot, look down into the slot and you'll see two screws. Remove those two screws, then slide the larger of the two external housings toward the trimmer end. Easy Peasy. No tabs need be sacrificed.

That "washer" is properly known as an "E-clip".

That "washer" is properly known as an "E-clip".

Avoid touching the various tach disks on these motors.

No need to remove this for a belt replacement.

Note the empty screw hole in the second photo, on the front, just beneath the plastic fin.

How was this removed without damaging the fin?
Hint: Since we've already removed the screws holding the right side cover in Step 9, the cover could be moved inward, providing access to that screw, IF we had already removed the lid attachment/hinge mechanism and rear inside cover.

I fail to see why this motor needs to be removed from it's bracket.

Steps 21 and 22 should already have been done first, then you can just push the axle pin out, and free the gear from the belt.

In this step, we can see the lid attachment hinge mechanism has been removed.

How was that done? And how are the damper/spring units adjusted after they are reinstalled?

I also don't know why this motor needs to be removed to replace a belt.

Why is this step here, and not a step to remove the lid attachment hinge mechanism and rear inside cover?
It is not necessary to remove the front door for this procedure.