What boats are you comparing? their playboats? I think that all boats should have a center pillar regardless if their creek boats, river runners, or play boats. You can still get pinned in a play boat. I would say keep it, but if it's really killing you having it in there you could try it out without it, but I'd recommend testing the structural integrity of the hull before you take it on the water (ie, stand on the deck of the boat with the pillar gone and see what happens to the deck and hull.

Now that I re-read your post, do you mean that the pillar doesn't extend all the way to the bow of the boat (in jacksons)? if so you can trim down the foam near the bow (of your LL boat) but keep the majority of the pillar intact.

In just about all my boats with a pillar that extends to the bow I have to trim the pillar so my heels will touch in order for me to fit into the boat.

Hope that helps.

ENDO, I just read this. I remember paddling a Vision 56 a while back and seem to recall the center pillar being a bit bulkier than the all star. That's good, actually, it allows for a nice trim fit. Just think of it as your ski boot liners come as a solid block of foam and you have to carve away everything except YOUR liners. Cool concept, but probably not as labor intensive for your application Carve out what needs to be gone so your feet can play nice in there, but not too much. Enough to feel comfortable so you're not thinking about how much you have to move your feet so they quit stinging.