I was going through the part in the manual that explains the oil pump overhaul, and noticed that they suggest "lifting and supporting the engine with the special tools". Subsequent steps didn't really have anything that would require such lifting, so am I missing smth here?

Does replacing oil pump really require supporting the engine? Why?

 

They want you to lift and support it so you can remove the oil pan without lowering the subframe

 

Nah. The oil pan can be wiggled out after removing the exhaust, there is no need to lift engine for that.

It turned out that engine mount has to be removed. First for timing belt, and later to remove one bolt on top of the oil pump. Normally for TB replacement the engine can be supported under the oil pan, but here the oil pan has to be removed too, therefore either a custom bracket is needed (to support the engine on the edges where the oil pan used to be screwed), or that special hanging tool that the manual is calling for.