Anne, there is no "compelling" reason to take them off except as MD stated--they are a Pa..n in the a..s at annual time, cause if your mechanic does a "real annual" he should remove them to check the bungees, the hydrasorbs, for leakage, corrosion, bolt security etc. The most critical, most abused part of your cub is the part between the 'gear legs' and it is the part covered up by the "tin cans". Even a backwoods stuper like me can make the covers if you must? I just went to an apolstery shop, got some scrap naugahyde, a $20 snap tool, and made a copy of the ones that the suppliers sell for $50! 5 snaps and you can inspect your own gear!
If you want you can remove the cans by jacking up the plane, remove the umpteen #4screws from each end, unbolt the strut that connects to the Bungee/fixture and slide the can off. carefully put them on a shelf and if you must you can reinstall them at time of resale? (why would you do that?)
Hope that helps
Tim
PS: you may loose a little top speed, but isn't that what we are trying to do? slow the world down?