If you drop, I mean when you drop your scoot its just a matter of time until it happens, your bags are going to get buggered up but until then your going to look cool without the guards.
I would leave them on for the protection for when you drop your bike and they give you something else to grab to pick it back up. plus, if you want more storage, and a water bottle carrier, get the RKC bags that snap on. just put a bit of two sided tape on top of the crash bars to keep them from slipping sideways.