Originally Posted by FBinNY

The first question is whether they're brazed or welded.

Brazed joints can be taken apart with both parts undamaged, so replacing a brazed dropout is fairly straightforward.

Welded dropouts can only be taken apart by hacksaw, so replacement must be thought about very carefully.

FWIW, I'd never consider replacing a dropout except where one is damaged on an otherwise high quality frame. An upgrade like the OP us considering makes little sense, except as a skill building exercise.