Ok, you had to know you were setting your self up to get some heat over this. I hope everyone doesn't get this attitude. If so then the entire US will be one big smog fest.
I live in Oklahoma were there is no state inspections. and since this was incorperated in 2001 the number of people running around with out cats has increased dramatically. Not only hurting the enviornment but also horrible noise pollution with all of these little rice burners with chrome fart pipes. I too used to believe that no cat was better. But have grown to realize, uless you are trying to shave off a couple tenths off your quarter mile time, keep your cat on. They make high flow units that will replace your stocker if you want too. Here is a pic of a good flowing system using a cat. I since have cut the pipe off about 8" past the muffler cause I didn't like the pipe out the back. It has a header with 2 1/4" pipe and a Dynomax super Turbo. It performs great and sounds great.