If you plan on ever doing any more PFs, buy one of these staple pullers:
The correct angle for removing staples of any size, from the smallest to the longest leg staples. Length of Blade: 4 1/2 in. Overall Length: 6-1/2 in.
www.ebay.com
I use the same pneumatic Meite upholstery stapler as was suggested previously. Household staple guns don't work.
I'm doing a Spectrum PF right now, but a Xenon is on deck after that (or maybe EK or Fathom).
Investing in these two tools are about all that I needed to make swaps "easy".
Also, just install Yoppsicles or whatever Bally-compatible LED board you prefer. Since you're starting anew with this PF, this will cost significantly less than a socket+LED and eliminate problematic bayonet sockets all at once.
New bayonet sockets are no better (or maybe worse) than the originals. I stick these LED boards in all bayonet-socket Ballys, but I leave wedge sockets in the 1981 & later games (EBD & later) that use them since they're reliable. The long-bracket wedge sockets are also not available to buy, otherwise they would also be a decent option to replace the bayonets.
I have a Vector that I bought already "restored"; the PF was nice, so it was stripped down and cleared, and unfortunately the guy pulled all the original wedge sockets and installed bayonet for some reason, probably thinking "there! I fixed it! it's new!" ...and I'm constantly playing the classic lamp-socket-whac-a-mole with some of the new sockets. He only made it worse and it's time I LED-board it.