After my Jeep got soaked during a freak storm, I've removed the carpet and drain plugs. Kinda like it that way. Any comments if just leaving all that stuff out?
I've taken my TJ's carpeting out twice in the past 21 years, twice it went back in the next day. The catalytic converter immediately under the front floor makes the floor way too hot which makes the interior much hotter in turn. And then the interior is MUCH louder without the carpeting. I'll never take it out again, I learned my lesson... twice.
I pull the carpets out every spring and don't worry about loud noise or heat. I use floor mats and have no issue with heat even while driving bare foot. When fall rolls around the carpets go back in.
I've got my carpet out right now. I can definitely feel some heat in the floorboards but it doesn't bother me. If I was you I'd take it out and see how you like it, you can always put it back in if you don't.
I picked up a set of used floor carpets for $20. I cut my originals and the used set so that I have a 2" overlap between the 2 sets. I can take the floor carpets (driver's and passenger's sides - 1 piece for each) out and leave the remains of the original set (transmission tunnel) in. It stays under the console and I never take it out (too much work). The overlap seam is hidden under my Huskyliner floor mats and is out of sight.
I always wanted to pull the carpet and put some type of rhino liner through the whole pan and bed, then use rubber mats to minimize the heat. Clean up would be so easy.