i very much appreciate the suggestion! and i'm sure it sounds like a real "duh" moment, but i honestly hadn't considered that...certainly hope it works!

I would advise making cuts every 8-12" in a grid pattern using a circular saw... the smaller the pieces are, the faster it comes up.

A fine coping saw blade, not mounted in the frame but handheld, might get it off without too much damage, but badabing’s suggestion of using an oscillating tool would be faster and much easier.

The tiles should be left in tact. The 'break' will happen with the WEAKER material. The molding will certainly break before the tile. You will need more molding that's for sure. And PLEASE have MORE VINYL on hand for this. Most vinyl planks can ONLY handle ONE installation. The edges on the planks OFTEN break when they are removed. It is the nature of the beast. Vinyl is BRITTLE and it LOVES to chip/break if it is handled too roughly. I like to tell clients to PLAN on having to REPLACE (ie. purchase more) up to 25% of the removed vinyl planks. Yah. As much as 25%. That means your regular 5% waste/left over that you have tucked away (you do have that, right?) isn't going to cover the loss you are ABOUT to have. Before you do anything, please contact the store where you purchased the vinyl and see if you can get more of it...you will want to have it on hand when the removal goes on. Just make sure you can return any unopen boxes. And remember: you MOST LIKELY will have DIFFERENT DYE LOTS...which can mean different colours. Once you have everything installed once more, try to keep 1-3 boxes for future repairs. Once these floors have been on the market for 18 months of more, they are DARN NEAR impossible to find again. The manufacturer makes a limited run and then they STOP making it. IF you need a repair in, say, 5 years you will NEVER find this stuff again. Never. So keep up to 100sf on hand (that depends heavily on HOW MUCH flooring you have installed).