You got the basics down, but I would use some aerosol brake cleaner rather than compressed air to clean the gunk out. Even though pads are no longer made of asbestos, that brake dust can't be good for you. The compressed air puts it into your breathing air, while the brake cleaner flushes it out with a liquid.
Not opening the reservoir may work, but when changing the pads you should check the condition of the fluid. If it looks like the milk left in the bowl after you've had your cocoa puffs, it needs changed....
And newt... I want to hear the screwdriver up the nose story....
