Well, you're certainly not alone there! Mine came off after only a few months. Deck does a great job of dispersing clippings now, also useful for blowing leaves & debris off the driveway.... But yes, I do watch out for situations where it might pick up something and shoot it out. Just be mindful of that possibility and you should be OK.
Ok, well I finally gave up on that stupid mmm shoot deflector, I took mine off too. I'm no square, I disable safety stuff on my tractors, but even I'm a bit worried about mowing without that deflector, honestly. But...it's just too in the way, even folded up, screw that thing.
Sliding glass door, bedroom window all succumbed to my youth and deflectors of various mowers removed. Just can’t do it anymore.
Sliding glass door, bedroom window all succumbed to my youth and deflectors of various mowers removed. Just can’t do it anymore.