Hello again OliG - I have been in touch with the TBN member in Mississippi who had the skid plate under his l5450. He took it off for oil filter work (left it off) - says it does protect some parts and is a trade-off. My own thought is that the loader frame and cab supports maybe do enough?
I do lift the doors off for summer - nice shade & rain protection for mowing (no a/c). I leave the rear window in place to reduce mower debris coming forward - my place has some poison ivy which I 'm not as immune to as I used to be