I don't know how you boys in EU play, but in NA Stealth is a very feasible option. I can camouflage in bushes and tall grass, escape pursuing infantry in haystacks, snipe from behind the cover of leaves and branches, etc.
Not everyone plays the game on a horse with ranged weapons. Some of us have to find other means of cowardice, or as you might call it, tactics.
As mentioned previously, removing bushes and haystacks does NOT increase performance by anything noticeable, as compared to the lowest graphics warband offers. Removing them is no more or less than giving yourself and advantage over other players.
Bushes = we can't see what is behind them.
Leaves/Branches = we can't see what is above us.
Haystacks = we can't see what is behind or in them.
Why should you be able to? They are obstacles in the game, for everyone to use or avoid, not to simply remove.
That is like removing rain and all of its affects on ranged and athletics just because rain makes you laggy. Well tough shit imo.
I don't think anyone cares whether or not you guys play with bad graphics, the concern is that you guys are REMOVING items that are in the game for everyone else. That isn't fair.