It looks like the chainrings on the Escape are removeable, but I don't know that you'd get any benefit from converting it. You save a miniscule amount of weight. One could argue in favor of simplicity, but I'm not convinced that you don't get the same simplicity by just not shifting the front. You can definitely adjust the front derailleur so it doesn't get in the way if that's all you care about, and the big chain ring then serves the same purpose as a chainguard.

I think this is one of those cases where 1x9 is sufficient but not necessary.