Is the air filter really that hard to change?

[twinmill28]

First, my air filter was beyond disgusting---I've driven the deuce just over 52K miles and wheeled a fair bit. Bad mistake not looking at this much sooner. I feel really bad for what I've done to the engine.
But in trying to put the lid back on, I just couldn't see a way to do it without moving the windshield squirter bottle. This entailed removing the bracket that's just over the top of the squirter bottle to get to the bottle screws and also pop that corner of the air cleaner lid back on. This also allowed me to identify that the windshield guys broke the plastic cowl pins, just the same as they did with my 3.
So what I'm asking, is the air cleaner really that much of a pain in the ass to put back together or did I just not force it enough? Seemed faster to take it apart vs. continuing to try cramming it on.