Originally Posted by Dustin@Z1

There are indeed some situations where people may find that they will not need a thermostat. But keep in mind, a thermostat serves TWO purposes:

1) To help regulate the temp and help maintain a proper operating temp (which is what this thread has been about primarily).

2) To help RAISE the temp of your oil quickly and safely (in a controlled manner). You could run without one, but on some cooler mornings you will have to take it easy on driving longer to ensure your oil temps come up to the proper temperature range. The thermostat restricts flow to the oil cooler when shut, bypassing ~80% of the oil back into the engine. This helps keep the warmth of the oil inside of the engine until a desired temp range is achieved.