I have the Empire ACC which is pretty similar. They are not so easy to get into even with the tongue removed. At least compared to my Shimano tri shoes... I can get into those in 10 seconds after mounting. Maybe I just need to practice more :)

I'm not worried about the tongue... It's held by 5 stitches. I'm pretty sure I can get some shoe repair guy to re-attach it for $10.

As far as laces go, I recommend these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DFK6EXS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They stay flat and you can trim them to just right thanks to the end clips.

Here's how I set them up: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPJcRlWD51f