I would say it is a bad idea to try to try to drag the pistons out the bottom to re-ring your pistons.
Very often the webbing for the crank bearings gets very wide and may not let the piston come down "straight" for the full depth of the piston. Also, the ring compressor will have to be fit in that same space when you re-assemble, and that sounds even less possible.
No real experience on these engines, but on the ones that I have, it would not be possible.
By the time you dis assemble the front of the engine to get the belt off, and the flywheel at the other end, you will have more time invested when you compare it to pulling the whole assembly.
Take the car to a place that has done the rod bearings before, I have heard people bragging they could do the whole thing in an evening, so you must gain a lot of insight by doing it once before.
Don't do any work that is not required, mileage alone is not a good reason to get the wrenches out.
Don't do the two operations at the same time (rod bearings and rings).
And remember, usually you don't need rings as your best bet is to remove the carbon behind the rings with a land cleaning tool.
And don't loose sight of the fact that gaskets and parts are harder to source than ever right now.
