Removal is often required for a good bearing rebuild on the hub itself.

I have used air-impact wrenches successfully before, as long as the socket is shallow enough to provide enough pressure against the tool. The purely rotary motion is a bit more effective on the splines than a cheater bar which can side load the tool(and round it). Same concept as the vise method but reversed and with a bit more force. Also applies to bottom bracket cartridges...