IYWMO,
I would leave the trim on as it serves some purpose.
It helps to prevent the exposure of sharp edges and also to protect the glass if a canopy or light hood is placed on top of the tank.
As well, I'm sure that tank mfg's wouldn't spend the extra time and $ to install these things if they weren't needed.
Oh and Seth, You should NEVER lift a tank by the top of the glass even when empty, as this causes added stress to the silicone and glass.
It's a safe practise to always lift the tank from the bottom while trying to keep the tank level
