The shield isn't terribly hard to take off (more just time consuming, also that you have to take the radiator cover off each time to access it)...I guess if you WANTED to stop and put it back on whenever it started raining you could, but it might be a little tedious in the rain

When it really comes down to it, I dont think it would be super super terrible to drive with it off, but I think you would definitely have to wash/replace the filters more

 

from the bottom angle, it looks likke a GTR lol

 

Just leave the filter guard on and paint it or send it to get carbon wrapped. That would look clean and you wouldn't really notice it.