I think you'll be okay. I understand how it is being out in the boonies (8 miles to the nearest point in town).
Mine just yanked off now that I remember it. The problem I had was not that the bearing race came apart when removing them, but when installing them. The retainer pulls the bearings into the housing, so when pulling it off it all should stay in one piece.
Putting them on is a little tricky... I think my post made it to the FAQ.
I re-used the nut one time when I took it off prior to doing the removal.
I was also replacing the warped rotors, so I used a metal hammer on them (not rubber). The wheel studs can be *easily* pounded out from the front, not double nutted out.

The tricky bits are:
-removing the "wheel locator pin" (and remembering it is there haha)
-knocking the rotor off the hub (gently)
-not dangling the calipers from the brake lines and tearing the lines (use wire or coffee cans)
-not damaging the threads on the studs (pad them before striking or order new with the hubs from FCP for ...$1.25 each?)
-not having the bearing "outer race" separate when reinstalling the hubs (see my post in the FAQ :] )

It's not a terribly long process. The studs will fit into the new hub without too much of an issue and will tighten themselves in with the lug nuts. You might want to take it for a short spin (under 30mph?) to make sure none of them will loosen up before hitting the highway.

Have fun! It's really an okay job. No packing bearings or anything. Also, if you have ABS now is a really good time to hit the ABS tone sensors and tone wheel with a can of non-chlorinated brake cleaner (chlorine will corrode the aluminum bits). There's no other time when they're so exposed.

Another too-long post! oh no!
-Will