Originally Posted by
shelbyfv
If you feel compelled to remove the eyelets, you might want to check the numerous recent threads about washers. They probably didn't put the eyelets there just for decoration.
+1 The eyelets are there because the rim material is thin enough that spokes will very likely cause cracking without them. There are rims without the eyelets but those rims have more material in way of the spoke holes.