I took the drivers side duct completly out and sold it here on fabo . Made a block off plate to seal the hole after re cleaning the cowl out , made room for the new fuse box-------------dont miss that dirt blowing in my face a bit !!
I would HATE not having at least one cowl vent, and dislike "this new stuff" with it integrated into the heater. It never gets "cold" as the outside as the heating ducts pick up engine heat, etc