Charles - it would easier AND cheaper to change the rear sprocket. I'd do the front only as a last resort. Then you retain your chain guard as well. By easier I mean you don't have to fuss with the chain guard and neither sprocket will be all that difficult.

I don't have the bike indoors at the moment so I can't tell you for sure how many teeth you might be able to go down on the front and keep the chain guard. I am betting almost none at all. Keep in mind that for each tooth you add to the rear sprocket is like removing about 2 from the front. You might be able to get by with a 25T rear sprocket.

I'll tell you what I'll do. Tomorrow I'll go ride some hills on my DT Mini. Second gear on it would be equivalent to a DT VIIIH's FIRST gear IF you were to put on a 25T rear sprocket. I'll see how it is to climb hills with that setup. See my review on the Mini as well to get an idea of its gearing. Anyway this will give me an idea of if the 25T rear sprocket might be enough drop for most people. This would be about a 10% drop in gearing.