Yes, Eric, that is exactly the sticky point
Have not taken them yet to PS (LR is not well suited for that type of correction), as I still have tons of pieces to shoot. In the meantime, I ordered Crystal Clear Museum Wax, (Simon Harper's recommendation), hoping that it will be less visible than the slightly opaque one used for those shots. I am also getting used to just how small the quantity of the damn wax is needed: every time I think that's it, turns out you can get away with a half of it. Kind of down to microscopic quantities.
As an alternative, the client is ok with simply cropping out the very bottom, as the top is what counts anyway (but, pssst, do not tell Russ!). That solution might save me tons of work in PS too.
I posted them here with the wax also to gauge the reaction, i.e., to see just how much people are bothered by it. I guess they are.