FYI, there's a vid here of removing that bearing using the actual shift drum from the outside
Nice job getting the starter post out. I never managed to, and actually couldn't find any discussion of it on the forum when I looked last year (I obviously should have asked the question....). The heat is a smart idea, I had removed the screw and the thing still wouldn't budge. I just left it in when I vapor blasted it, and I'll second what Signal said, there is a cavity behind it that traps a seemingly infinite amount of residual media. It took FOREVER to get it all out.
Oh - I had picked up an extra NOS needle bearing (93320-31501) when doing mine....not sure how easy they are to find these days...I'd be glad to send it at cost, shoot me a PM