a/c system

[paulsz28]

my a/c compressor has been out for a while now. really, i just want to take the thing off, as well as all associated ancillary hoses. i have 2 questions:

1) if i remove the compressor and hoses, will i still be able to use my heater? at the moment, the extent that my heater works is that it only comes out the vents on top of the dash.

2) are there any components of the a/c system i do not want to remove, that are vital to overall vehicle operation?

thanks
paul