Kim Komando - You can't get rid of Internet Explorer

This "tip of the day" provides key reasons why IE cannot be completely removed from Windows.  Internet Explorer is more than just a browser, as other alternative browsers may occasionally use IE APIs.  As shared in the article, move to IE8 for better overall security, even when other browsers like Firefox, Opera, or Chrome are used exclusively.   

Kim Komando - You can't get rid of Internet Explorer
http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=8089

QUOTE: There are good reasons to leave Internet Explorer on your computer. And, in fact, you cannot remove it. It is an integral part of Windows. You can remove the icon if you want. But Internet Explorer will always be with you. So, it’s essential that you keep it updated. That’s actually easy. Just set Windows for the most automatic updates possible. Then, let Microsoft take care of it. Also, be sure you’re using Internet Explorer 8. That is the safest version. There is no value in maintaining old versions of Internet Explorer. They simply make you more vulnerable to attacks.