Yep, simple it may be, but easy it ain't.
If you go with a cover, you have to make sure that all big cracks are filled and all pieces of splits that are proud of the original are cut off. If not, all those blemishes will show through the new cover.
Not sure why, because those covers are fairly hard plastic. Evidently not hard enough though.
If you do the full pad, it's the best way perhaps, but you will be disconnecting the hard top and pushing the windshield forward far enough to get to the front-facing screws.
Bummer, but doable. If you don't have a top on, you're almost there!
Paul