Well, my job needs to be done in situ as my entire exhaust system is welded as they originally were. There was no way my tips were coming off with force. So, on to plan B, a Dremel with a cutting disk, or, in my case, four. Sliced through the chrome tip, spread with a screwdriver and off they came. I did a better job on the second tip than the first, narrower slice, but no damage to the steel exhaust pipes, just be careful.
Naturally, there was surface rust between the tip and exhaust, nature's best glue. I sanded it fairly smooth and tried installing a new tip, but after the first indent, things were really getting tight. I didn't want to get halfway on and get stuck, so I pounded it off with a wooden block and hammer. I'll clean up the rusty exhaust tips more and am considering coating them with anti-seize to aid in installation. The new chrome tips are a perfect diameter and slide on with relative ease until the detent. It should get more difficult, of course, but I sensed it was a bit too tight. Also, I will not need to make any cutouts on the new chrome tips, they are only a touch longer than the rounded ones (1/2"?) but plenty of room before any obstacles. You can see in the pic of the exhaust.
More to come.