EGR Valve "To be or not to be"

What is your view regarding the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve fitted to TD5 engines. My 2003 LRDS2 has one and whilst the car performs sort of as it should, I would appreciate thoughts as to the popular modification of removing this device especially in the light of the current MOT situation that any modifications/removal to emissions related devices, this includes EGR’s is now a major fail.
What are the advantages/disadvantages and how will this effect emissions generally if you remove the device?
Steve

Just blank it using the blank as a shim between the existing flanges, might need slightly longer bolts, and so long as all parts in place they wont know if its working or not.

Took mine off, didn't make any difference I could see but it is one less thing to obstruct the inlet flow. Passed the MOT like that but with the engine cover on the tester would have to be bothered to look for it.
+ 1 to @lynall's method but if doing this I'd recommend taking the business end off, cleaning it and putting it back on ensuring it is fully opened. Can't remember if leaving it wired in will mean it will still move up and down! Someone else will come on about that!

An MOT tester is, as I understand, not permitted to remove trim or covers during a test.
Removing it just means one less thing to maintain on an ageing vehicle.

ronsealdeath said:

An MOT tester is, as I understand, not permitted to remove trim or covers during a test.
Removing it just means one less thing to maintain on an ageing vehicle.

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I think, well acksherly I know, an MOT man could tell if you'd removed the EGR by looking even with the covers on. But they have to want to look for it and then to do anything about it.
Jobsworths will see it, tothers won't. Which is why i have kept my EGR cr@p for both the TD5 and the 300tdi. So if they ever say, "can't test that mate, no EGR" I can pootle off and refit.
so if you do take it off, keep it.

The simple way is to clean the valve to make sure it's not gunked up and unplug the solenoid's electric plugs then plug them back only for MOT