Removing it would be simple. If you made a slot in the top of the slug that a nickel or quarter edge could fit into it would just twist out with ease
Bro, I gotta say that you've really opened a can of worms here!
Okay.. there's nothing listed in the USBC for what you're asking, and as it is only the USA's governing body, I went further up to the IBF, which governs everything worldwide, and they only break things down by division and country...
.. so what the hell, eh? I looked up Australia's governing body, to find their certification rules.... and nothing.
Looked at the UK's... nothing. Ireland? nothing. Canada has this:
What if a bowler does not use their thumb for a strike ball but does use their thumb for
a spare shot?
As of August 1, 2020, a bowler who doesn’t use the thumb during a delivery cannot have a thumb hole or a balance hole. If the ball does, it is illegal and games are subject to forfeiture. All holes drilled must be used for gripping purposes on every delivery.
Big grey area here. Obviously, a 2-handed bowler can't have a thumb hole, but is a hole drilled for the insertion of an IT or switch-grip considered a hole, even if the IT/switch-grip isn't drilled for a thumb?
I'm not even going to try translating the Korean or Japanese federation, so I see where it can be legal, but I can also see that
because it isn't illegal doesn't mean that it is legal. It's neither legal, nor illegal.
BL.