You actually CAN remove the metal pieces, and in the event that I ever have to use a ragjoint/pineapple setup - I don't use them at all.
What is a better replacement is using washers behind the nuts. This allows for a much tighter and individualized grip to the spokes and keeps it from slipping. You want as large as you can without danger of ripping the rag, but not so large the torque is dispersed across a large area (minimizing torque on the spokes themselves causes the rag to slip and then the bolt torques the spoke, not the rag as it is designed). As well, replacing the 9 aluminum bolts with grade 5 steel allows you to tighten them enough to where they are not in danger of stripping out or snapping.
I have done it without the washers, but it's VERY easy for the nut to pull through and tear the rag. Depending on what kind of nuts you have - if they are nylock with flanged bottoms (built in washer looking), they tear less often, but it is worth the 80 cents for washers that work. As well, I've done it with only one rag on the inside of the spokes, one rag on the outside of the sprocket and the plates outside of that rag, and it held up the second best.
So you can easily use the plates to push your sprocket for alignment.
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well, if you say it works this way, it must...i'm not doubting you at all.
I personally wouldn't do it this way, but that's just my opinion.