Welcome to the club! I think I was the last one who asked how to open it. I've found out it's a club with many members. Your membership # is 436-12B
It's a PITA, but what worked for me when I put the pocket back in, and it locked again, is this:
Lift up on the pocket cover and get a small flat screwdriver and work the bottom right screw out. Then lift the pocket cover and press down on the rivet on the bottom left with a small nail to release it. This will allow you to lift the bottom of the pocket up enough to release the latch.
I removed the trim piece and the cover below the pocket, but was unable to release the latch because how the pocket fits over the mechanism. I used the smallest fingers in the house and still could not reach it.
Before I put it together again, I tied a doubled up fishing string to the mechanism and fed it down behind the cover below the pocket so I just have to pull it if I ever make the same mistake.