accounts-backup is a binary which seems to just copy ~/.accounts/accounts.db to accounts.db.bak.

accounts-restore is a shell script which removes the accounts db and replaces it with accounts.db.bak; if this doesnt exist, accounts-restore simply removes your accounts db.

so, this is literally the same as what i already do. copying the db to my laptop, reflashing, and replacing the db. it does not work.