I might install one just to bug the bike snobs.

This one always gets a chuckle out of me when I see how strongly people feel about it. Obviously if it's causing any issues while riding like in your case it's gotta go, but outside of that I don't even notice them on bikes half the time. I had to check my bike just now to see if I have mine on (I do 😅)

On my folding bike, I kept them on because "they serve a purpose", but then realized that they were not allowing my wheels to turn freely no matter how they were adjusted.

Once I removed them, my wheels now spin forever. LOL

If they weren't causing trouble, I would have just left them on.

Edit: Ignore that I'm making it sound like there are two dork disks on my bike... it was on one wheel (rear) and only there was only one! LOL

It provides a bit of protection. I don't care what other people think, I lleave mine on.

I try to remove anything that isn't totally necessary. So they're a no from me, dawg.

I like the looks of a bike without them but not enough to remove them unless I have the casette off.

I walk with a pair of pliers, giving folks instant upgrades. Thieves steal bikes. Snobs snap dork discs off.

I have no issue with them, so until I do it stays. If something that small gets someone's spandex in a twist so be it!

Hmm, is that what my salesperson called the "pie plate" iirc? In that case, I cut mine off right away, since it was a racing bike, and I did a few races with it, and couldn't risk being the only person in the race with that lame extra weight that screamed "n00b!" (or at least that was my fear..)

I don't have an opinion on something I only think about once every seven or eight years.

If your rear derailleur is adjusted correctly, then it's absolutely useless. I have never seen a point in keeping one on. Every one I've had has broken at some point or another, so it makes sense to just remove it preemptively the first time I have the cassette off.

I think the term is unhelpful. I would not have one on my bikes (I had to remove one from a carbon canyon), but i can adjust a derailleur. But they are practical and keeping a practical item doesn’t make people dorks. We should show love to all cyclists regardless their bike or gear - we are an endangered species!

Serves no purpose. I've had my chain fall between the cassette and spokes several times but nothing broke because I managed to stop the bike immediately which often is the case because you're already on the lowest gear by then anyways.