k so I decided to attempt the so-called destructive freewheel removal method without actually destroying the freewheel. Victory was achieved.
It wasn`t even especially difficult. I took it apart using a punch and dumped the bearings out, then used a pipe wrench to get the core off the hub (probably the most brutal method possible). I wiped off the junk from the freewheel parts, put light grease in the bearing races, put all the bearings back, and screwed it back together. The only tough part was actually picking up the individual balls. The freewheel appears to be in good working order now.