I agree.
It's possible to download DFDR/SSDFDR data into a PCMCIA card or to swap out the QAR media for analysis. But the CVR has to be pulled to be read.
There may be a way to carry out a SSCVR memory dump in situ, but its not in the AMM so I'm not aware that it can be done. And it certainly cannot be done on a conventional continuous loop tape transport CVR.