So what's the magic secret to de-coupling the standard 4-prong connectors? I sometimes have to join two hoses to get enough length, but I find it all but impossible to get them apart again.
Not exactly sure, but I would imagine they have a draft angle built into the design to pull the connection tight. You could try some vaseline so they don't stick together or take a dremel tool and remove a little material so they don't pull so tight together. Just be careful to only remove enough material so they release and not leak.