peter,
is the climb a popular aid route?? i doub it, i cannot think of too many routes in washington that could go free with heading on them(i may be ignorant)
i say if they route can go free, then it should. what protection opportunities are you looking for?? can you use micro nutz or something similar??? are you planning on bolting it??
certainly the removal of the fixed heads will result in some scarring, but will the next person be able to reuse the placement?? will an aid climber feel the need to re-head the pitch if they come across it??
lotsa questions yo?!