YES!

but it can be done, without damage. basically, the knobs have to be pulled straight off. I did it, without scuffing up my knobs, by pulling them off with pliers and a rubber jar lid gripper. I put the gripper on the knob, and gripped the knob through the rubber gripper. They pop straight off, but it takes some force.

Once that's done, there is a little nut you can screw off, allowing you to be able to pull the whole assembly out.

The Advantage is one solidly built controller.