It is ok to take it off and leave it off. It is their because some people think looking at a platic cover is somehow more attractive then seeing the actual mechanical and elctrical componets of the engine! To me it would be like takeing a good looking curvy women and covering here in plastic panels that remove all curves from here form and make her apear to be a smooth squar box. Now bareing someone with a box fetish I am sure we can all see how silly this sounds. I guess people that do not understand or feel deeply for their car or truck would just as soon have the hood welded shut then have to be confronted with their own ignorance ever time they pop the hood.
Their is a lot to be said about the beaty of a well thought out mechanical design. No one ever says "Wow look at that plastic engine cover!!!".
Now some will tell you that some designs channel the air blaw blaw blaw.....This is rather silly for several reaons. The hood,engine splash protectors and space behind the engine between the engine and fire wall create the air flow that is needed for an engine. You want air to flow in the front through the grill through the raqdiator circle around the sides of the engine and over the top and then hit the fire wall and sink back towards the underside of the car. This is why it is bad to drive with hood off the car or to leave too little space between the firewall and engine.
