Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. Also, don't believe everything that people tell you. Have you datalogged the EGR? I have. It's active all the friggin time. Not just during decel.
I'd like to add a couple items to your list...
The only three reasons to remove EGR;
1) you are going FI and don't want to deal with programming for it
2) you want to use a non-egr header
3) you want to remove it from under hood for space/appearance 4) it gunks up your entire intake screwing up flow5) you like improving your throttle response Have any of you pre-98 guys taken your intake off? I had a 1/8" layer of crud lining my intake manifold and runners.
Augi, try disabling EGR and see what you think. It's really easy, you disconnect the vacuum line from your EGR valve and plug it into the "REF" port on your DPFE sensor. Also, unplug the "HI" hose from the DPFE and plug it so it doesn't leak exhuast gasses. (It's the rectangular sensor next to the EGR solenoid on the firewall.) It's just that easy.
HTH,
BP