That's a great tip, thanks. Since I've mangled my share of repinned connectors all the way back to RC car and boat days, I may try to eventually find the correct terminal removal tool for these coil connectors.

This will likely become a required skill set for those with aging cars and COP ignition systems. What's telling, neither of the two Indy shops who work on Volvos for a living even considered this symptom/repair. Both shops were ready, after OK compression checks, to replace spark plugs and swap around and replace ignition coils. The coil connector problem was never discussed by the shops and one which I isolated myself.