suby, you 100 percent right, set the handle side of the ratchet into boiling water for between 5-10 minutes, then put on leather gloves and pulled it off in about 5 seconds. And yes they pinch the metal to create the tabs to prent handle spinning.
Would like to remove comfort grip handles to replace with a hard handle. Heres what the handle looks like.
http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-330431-12-drive-12-comfort-grip-swivel-ratchet.aspx