With these being mid grade boards, it looks to me like there is enough value in some of the components to strip them?
What are the 5 gray colored squares?
What would be the best way to get those tantalum capacitors off?

Not sure of the proper name but the gray boxes look like a transformer just in a different housing. Should be copper windings inside.

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Here to learn more so I can recycle more
My grades are my own opinion and not an official grade from Boardsort

More importantly, what you might want to consider, is would the board move north to say, low peripheral or perhaps high peripheral if you stripped the three blue capacitors, the six or seven black capacitors and the two yellow transformers.

Having said that. If you still want to strip the board for individual components. There are seven chunky, yellow tantalum capacitors. The ICs and it looks like some MLCCs. And yes, those brownish colored squares are indeed small transformers along with the two yellow transformers can go as copper bearing motors.

There is also the small board soldered in the corner, that, if removed, should easily clear high peripheral, maybe low telco.

Enjoy,

RFIII

I asked Chris about pulling the junk and it will not help the board.
Thats the reason I am going to strip them.
I cant sell those transformer locally as motors or transformers. At 1000 miles from Boardsort I cant afford to ship any thing below peripheral grade except for gold pin connectors when I have enough room. I ship 500 lbs + mixed shipments from peripheral grade and up.

All I generally strip from low and mid grade boards are the IC chips, aluminum heat spreaders, transformers that are the size of $0.50 piece or larger, any brass.

I know MLCC’s have some value I don't know have any idea who buys them. Same with crystals and crystal oscillators.

CMCs (MLCCs) just ask local yards. Call around, etc.
also try watch battery buyers. (Silver oxide buyers).

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How can I get the tantalum cap’s off with out destroying them? I tried rocking one back and forth with a pair of channel locks and ended up destroying it.

T depends how n mounting.
Many use four small pins soldered. For these I use a small pair of very sharp wire snips.

Others use two blade connectors. These I personally just skip.

Spot mount soldered takes a bit of heat. But use care. M heating boards makes fumes.
Nasty sick fumes

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Fumes is why I quit using a torch to pull soldered IC chips. Now I use 1” wood chisel and cut the board along the pins. Then bend the legs over on one side and the piece of board usually come right off.