Hi Alan!
We cut the front bench to make a dinette and definitely think it was worth it! And it can still be used as a couch, bed, and even the bunk (if we put all the parts back in). One other reason I like it is because the door that was under that front bunk was too low to allow a porta-pottie to slide in, but now it fits!
I was looking back thru my posts at some of the pictures (maybe you can search posts by me). I have some better pics of how we stabilized it, I'll have to get to my other computer and try to remember how to post pictures!
(If I don't use it --I lose it!)
Vickie