This is one of those things that could be debated ad nauseam. I think it depends on you the photographer and the story you are trying to tell. Leaving them in, as you have done, tells a completely different story than removing them does. It is your decision. To me, leaving them in probably adds to the demeanor of this particular image. Removing them, well...I am not sure what the story is. My 0.02¢ FWIW.