I'm ambivalent about the steps. I would put them on, but only use them if a ladder were not available. I wouldn't take them OFF ("drag reduction"? REALLY?

).
Hey... every little bit helps.
I'm sure that any improvement caused by removing them will be due entirely to placebo effect. That is, of course, nothing to be sneered at -- it's a well established performance enhancement mechanism as verified by many testimonials.
Roy
probably quite true.