Most windshields are not held in by a gasket anymore. My FIL does auto glass, they have all kinds of fancy tools now to remove windshields. They are held in place pretty much by glue/sealant and you cannon remove them without cutting that glue, and its a lot of work to cut that glue/sealant all the way around to get the broken windshields out.
Have you tried pulling a smashed windshield recently? Once you shatter it you CAN rip it out and it WILL tear free of the glue. This isn't my opinion, this is my experience. I've done this. More than a few times. In emergencies. We actually prefer to NOT use glass saws now as they raise issues of silicosis from the glass dust. Smash and rip. This was my training in Summer 2008.
This is what my FIL tells me, he replaces glass several times a day. He has some fancy $500 reciprocating saw looking tool with a thinner blade with very fine teeth that more like vibrates than cuts to cut through the glue but he can't use that on very many cars, most he still has to use the hand tools. He has to buy shirts a couple sizes larger because hig upper arms are so large from tugging on those cutting tools. He's complained about the new glued in windshelds for a long time now since they are so hard to get out.
I believe the difference in windshield removal here is the end use. If one wants a surface that is ready for a professional re-installation of a windshield for the vehicle owner/operator, then the proper tool and due diligence is required during the removal. If one is trying to extricate the owner/operator from an already wrecked or burning vehicle, the ability to re-install a windshield is on zero concern.
BTW, unplanned and inexperienced field testing has shown me that a windshield can be ripped out after breaking it, but it is a lot of work for one out of shape man and a 14 y/o boy. Oh yeah, good gloves help also....
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