A/C and heater box removal

I would loop the two heater hose nipples on the engine. I have read that path thru the heater box is important during engine warm up (bypasses the thermostat?). That said, I doubt that just plugging them off could hurt the engine, since surely many people have had plugged heater cores or water valves stuck closed. How did a Ga Tech grad wind up in Alberta? Colder up there isn't it?