Yeah, I can get my skinny arms down there with no problem to turn 'em from the inside. The outside grip method has not always worked for me. Ya rarely need to do this and they get stuck after a few years.
The stock bulbs are ~4 watts. Lots of us have been using a 12v, 18 watt wedge base bulb for many years. They're much brighter and look much better. The 18w bulbs are not too hot or draw too much power for the wires.
They last for years. I once made the mistake of getting the same bulbs from Sylvania at Lowes. They suck! They burned out in well under a year. I now carry the extra two Malibu's in my glove box. If I see one has burned out, it can get changed in seconds, no matter where I am. Even without the help of an Isuzu trained mechanic.