Hi Andrew, thanks for your comments.
Like Anna, I use the little rubber sucker to remove my lens.
With me, the suction of the lens to the eye is very strong. I've never managed to succeed with your method unless there was a large bubble under the lens

.
I find that the rubber sucker is best if you look hard at your chin, with the eye right down, and use the sucker nearer the top edge of the lens - certainly not dead-centre.
The sucker then seems to hinge the lens out, and you don't have to pull very hard. I find that if I am pulling hard, the top edge of the lens is usually under the top lid still - look down further and/or pull the eyelid further up.
As to amidose, I tend to use one "tube" for about 3-4 days. It's certainly not too expensive then!