Leica M2 eye piece mask removal?

[joby]

recently got my first Leica, an M2 (thanks Bob aka nanthor!). it's amazing, but as a glasses wearer i need more eye relief to very comfortably see the 35mm frame lines. it has the older rectangular eyepiece mask/aperture piece. i'm aware that an M4 style eyepiece can be installed, but then I thought, after watching an m2 top plate removal video and seeing the part in question exposed, could the mask be omitted entirely for more eye relief with no ill effect?

wondering if anyone has experience with this mod, the couple of techs i asked over email skirted around the removal part of the question.

this is the part in question, in case I wasn't clear: https://www.dagcamera.com/store/p111..._Of_Stock.html

thanks,
joe

 

[joby]

no thoughts? after watching a few more top plate removal videos, i noticed one refer to this part as a "retainer" for the lens assembly directly behind it. this would mean that removing it completely wouldn't be an option..

 

[John Koehrer]

The removal of the cover without the right sized flexiclamp wrenches can be hazardous to the finish of your camera.

They're needed for the flash sync connections, advance lever and retaining screw beneath it, collar under the rewind knob.
The screw at the top of the lens mount also hold the cover in place. That's the one with the black seal, "L" if it hasn't been into before.

I don't remember if the eyepiece itself needs to be removed