I thought about removing it too but when I got my coated shorties I thought for sure I couldn't remove it now. It is REAL hot here 300 days a year plus my car is black. What I did was remove the plastic covers on the hood scoops and open them up. That made a difference in getting that heat out.

 

It shouldn't hurt anything, mine has been off since I bought it, and if you want, you can even throw a good was job on there to protect if you're worried. Or, if it does go bad, just buy an SS/Ultra Z hood. That why you can justify the money spent!