EWG spacers & detactable EWG dump
 

As I continue to unravel and repair my 94 w/T3 project, I'm wondering if there is any reason there would be spacers on the EWG? Old school cast FM style log manifold, with a Tial F38 flanged WG. There was a 3/8" between mani and WG (which I think I added to try and get better engagement on the slip joint of the WG dump a few years back), and a 1/2" on the EWG outlet pushing the dump rearward.

I am trying to get rid of extra points of failure and extra points that can leak (as a few of these mating surfaces are leaking). I plan to cut and rework the WG dump because it was poorly executed (hanging too low), so I don't need to put the spacers back in as I can adjust the pipes to sit properly without them. Is there any other reason to have spacers than purely to adjust for alignment?

Second question, the existing EWG dump has a leaky slip joint which I want to eliminate, is there any reason I should have a point where the EWG dump elbow can be disconnected from the DP? I initially was going to just eliminate the slip and put in a v-band to fix the leak issue but retain the removability, but now that I am going to rework the pipe I don't know if a joint is needed/would be helpful or if I should just weld it on.

My logic for eliminating it:
I can still unbolt the WG and remove it if the dump is welded solid.
I can still unbolt the turbo and remove it if the dump is welded solid.
Due to the shape of the existing DP, I can't remove it from the car with the engine on the cradle so making it sold wouldn't change or make that worse. The reworking of the dump in general may fix that, and if it did I could remove the DP if the manifold was off.
One less possible leak point.

Thoughts y'all?