If you think that most people remove eco systems out of hatred towards Greta Thunberg or simply to make their exhaust louder, you’re mistaken. There are two main reasons behind it.
 
RISK DURING LONG TRIPS
 
Let’s take the AdBlue system, for example. If something breaks down just because the wind blew in the wrong direction, the engine won’t start after approximately 800km. It’s not because the car can’t be driven or there’s a serious risk (like a fire), but simply because if the system is malfunctioning, the car doesn’t meet eco requirements. And if it doesn’t meet eco requirements, it’s not allowed to be driven. That’s when you need to call for a tow truck.
People who are aware of the potential issues with AdBlue choose to remove the system before embarking on a long trip where there are no service centers available to quickly fix the problem.
 
EXPENSIVE REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS OF ECO SYSTEMS
 
It’s not just a one-time repair and forget about it. Urea, which is used in these systems, isn’t always reliable. It’s not uncommon for people to visit dealerships for repairs every 40,000 km or so. But what if the warranty has expired? You end up paying, paying, paying. Or you can choose to remove the system altogether and forget about the ongoing expenses.
Let’s take the diesel particulate filter (DPF) as another example. Do you know how much a new one costs? Regardless of the car model, it can be around $2000. Not everyone can afford to spend that much on a filter. That’s why people choose to remove it.

“The DPF is clogged, the check engine light is on, the car doesn’t move, but the AdBlue system is working fine. Can I remove the DPF and leave the AdBlue system intact?”

No, because the AdBlue system will quickly fail without the DPF.

TO UNDERSTAND WHY, LET’S LOOK AT THE SEQUENCE OF ECO SYSTEMS:

1 Catalytic converter
2 Diesel particulate filter
3 AdBlue

If you remove any of these components, you need to follow the correct order. The third system is not designed to function without the second one, and the second one is not designed to work without the first one.

So, if, for instance, the catalytic converter is clogged, you’ll have to remove all eco systems. If the AdBlue system malfunctions, you remove it, and the rest will continue to function properly.

I hope this clarifies things.

WHAT ABOUT EGR?
The EGR is a separate topic. It goes beyond being just an eco system (that’s a different story altogether). This system appeared a long time ago, before diesel particulate filters existed, so there is no direct connection.
In other words, the EGR does not affect the amount of soot and is only designed for one purpose: to alter the temperature of the cylinders, which leads to reduced emissions.
In conclusion, the EGR can be removed separately from all other eco systems.