By the way I greatly enjoyed the Monte Python style remark in the faq

Cool, which one?

My question is should I go ahead and install a second drive while I have it open, thereby decreasing the number of times I open the box and my margin for error.

I would. But then again, I've had my player open so many times that I don't even think about it any more.

If you don't have a new disk drive handy "right now this instant", then I would put the new cable in anyhow, and then take my time shopping for a drive.