Most of my hwh are electric. I grab the brass, copper and any wiring I can get. I remove the 2 covers for the elements, undo the screws holding the wire, then use pliers to pull them out. Sometimes they come right out, other times I leverage against the opening to pull it, other times they snap off. If they snap, I call it good. Too much work to cut it open.

Have also been taking the elements out. Assuming they're ni-chrome?