Yea man, you live in cali....If you dont need the heater, then bypass it. Trust me thats not something you want to do. If you want it done get it done. Otherwise your gonna end up smashing your car up with a baseball bat before your done.
Bypassing it is fine. I had a ford machanic do it on the side for I belive $175. I think they want over $400 in a shop. I don't have the patients for all that.