Not physically removed, just blanked off and deactivated. The reason I'm going down this route (as with the DPF modification), is that IF in the future MOT stations check for a DPF it looks like I have one, same with the EGR.
Not that anyone will ever check, but to drive a car with an altered emissions system is illegal (as far as I know, this was the general concensus I got from a lot of searching...) - atleast if it LOOKS like I still have a DPF, anyone who chooses to 'inspect' it won't be able to tell it's be modified.
Straight pipe would no doubt give slightly better airflow though I agree. Be useful it anyone has driven a same spec car with the DPF 'gutted' and with the DPF actually replaced with a pipe to give an opinion on performance?
I spoke to 5 or 6 different companies when shopping around and researching my remap/DPF, all of the ones I spoke to said they didn't bother fitting a new pipe as it was expensive, didn't offer any benefit, and IF the MOT regs etc are changed in the future you don't end up having to put your DPF back on (DPF there or not isn't detectable via emissions as it reduces soot).