I finally got a really good look at the MAF screen today when I did my Mother-in-Law'* LIM gaskets on a '98 Olds 88. I can see what is meant now by the screen having "depth," and how it'* design creates laminar flow.

I can say that after having a look at the LIM (and head) ports, I can't see how anything in the stock airbox, TB (including the MAF screen), or UIM can be the limiting intake restriction.

That won't stop me from testing, though!
(Might be a few weeks before I have any data, however)

Calculate the restriction area and compare it to your throttle plate diameter. You'll realize that there'* truly nothing to gain. You felt what you wanted to feel.

There'* cars here flowing MUCH higher volumes than you, and we run our screens because we've learned the value of them, and the simple fact that it'* not the greatest restriction in the system.

Your MAF sensor and PCM need that screen to get an accurate reading of the amount of incoming air. You idle rough because your PCM can't make sense of the data the MAF sensor is sending it because the MAF sensor can't get a good reading.

I was once a believer in removing it myself. But from what I've experienced and learned on both my cars, I put it back in.

I have one of the best-performing Series 1'* here. My advice is to leave them in.
Rogue and Foghorn have two of the top 5 Series 2'* here. They're saying the same.
The three of us have spent an ENOURMOUS amount of time tuning and characterizing our cars.