2006 w/105k - it's my daily

Pulled the battery to throw it on the charger while I had it up on jackstands for a brake job.

When I put everything back together, AC was no longer blowing cold air.

What I've checked:
1. Climate control self diagnostic throws no codes (00)
2. No codes in techstream with the engine running
3. All A/C and heater related fuses are good
4. A/C COMP relay is good (swapped it with the horn relay)
5. compressor clutch engages and disengages when A/C button is pressed in cabin
6. A/C manifold shows 100psi on both high and low side with engine warm and A/C on max
7. Replaced the battery (it was time anyway, and I was grasping at straws )

From everything I've been able to determine, this means that my compressor has given up the ghost. I'm guessing that the battery work pushed it over the edge somehow.

Questions (all of these are assuming that it is the compressor and I'm replacing it in my driveway):
Is there anything else it could be? I would really prefer not to replace the compressor right now but with Alabama summer fast approaching and a black car it's not really optional.
The compressor doesn't look to hard to remove from underneath, but I can't see how to get at the condenser drier/filter - anyone have the service manual pages on how to replace the drier element in the condenser?
Do I need to purge/flush the system or will changing the filter and desiccant element do the trick? I'll get a compressor prefilled with oil.

Thanks in advance