Worked like a charm. Followed the description emailed to me from AVK to replace the inner boot without removing the axle entirely:
Punch out the pin. Unbolt sway bar link from control arm, and control arm from crossmember at the forward mount. Then there's enough play in the aftmount to swing the wheel out from the bottom and knuckle with halfshaft far enough for the joint housing to slide off the stub shaft. Pick out the large c-clip inside the "can" with a screwdiver or even your fingernail and then you really do need a c-clip remover to get the small c-clip off the shaft end and then the three balls are right there to clean, clean old grease out of the can add grease and reverse order to get her back together. When you put it back together, tighten the control arm and sway bar link bolts with wheels on the ground, or at least on ramps, otherwise the bushings will be twisted.
Other boots seemed fine so I decided to just do this one AND I had access to a lift. MWE, Subaru axle rebuilders with good prices and great help, suggested that inner torn boots were more forgiving than outer and worth a try and seconded AVK's approach.