Elaborate on "no issues whatsoever". What were the mods on the cars, how much boost pressure ran, tuned with what software, ect.

The reason why I think it's a bad idea is that regardless of taking them out one at a time, you are unseating a gasket that has been torqued down, compressed and heat cycled. When you untorque those bolts, you have compromised gasket seal. Regardless if people have done it before, it's not the right way.