I got a new windshield yesterday in my (new) '87 and talked with
the fellow at the glass shop about removing the trim strip.
He said it didn't do anything, but you might want to fill the
channel with something like sealer, just to take up the
space.

He said they do not remove this strip when replacing the
window--they just push out the old one from the inside with
their feet, put the rubber around the new one with lots of
lube, and pull it into the frame.  It took ~25 minutes for them
to install mine and it looks like they didn't remove the strip
It wasn't "them" either--one person did it all..

                                                    Richard A. Jones
                                                    Boulder, Colorado
                                                    '81 Vanagon  Mr Bus
                                                    '87 Syncro Westy