Jamesel.
I can't actually remember if we have left them off for any period of time longer than a week. It's a bit tedious to do. However, ours is a DR250 with 160hp and a fine pitch prop. She positively leaps into the sky. Given a 20kt breeze I can be at 1000 ft by the field boundary. On medium sized, busier airfields with an active overhead join pattern I will moderate the climb because it's too good.
Anyway, I'm sure I've seen as many DR120s without spats as with them. Permit types, you know.