Removal of dummy waterpump

No, that wouldn't work well. The viscous fan is thermostatically controlled through hydraulic solenoids for both temperature and A/C pressure. Electric fans would provide no thermostatic control nor a means to mount the drive belt. Repair the car the way it was built.

Interesting idea. If the fan blades can be removed from pulley I dont see why not? You would just need some kind of thermo switch to activate fans automatically.

Temperature is only half the problem. The A/C inputs to the fan controls also.

So you would just need feed from a/c signal to trigger fans? Maybe thru a relay tapped off the compressor clutch? Nothings impossible with determination?

That would only give you a full on and full off and nothing regulated by the pressure. It could end up being too much fan at times.
I don't advise trying it. The old one still has to be usable enough to carry the belt.

Do you think the fan speed option was added as a noise abatement issue like say when idling in a drive thru? In other words is it really necessary? Cant imagine what too much fan if thermo controlled would mean otherwise?

It means a lot. Too much fan in cool weather will lower the A/C pressures too much and cause freeze up and compressor starvation. Most cars have the defrosters wired to run the compressor to remove moisture.

That's probably the real reason. Cold weather freeze up when they added the moisture removal trick. Wonder when that all started?

No, that is not true. The A/C also interacts with the fan.

Changing over does seem like a more complex job then just replacing bad water pump. I would hesitate to undertake such a project. I have been known to plug weep holes though to get a few extra miles out of a pump till funds were sufficient.

No, you don't know that you have no problems and you won't realize that you do until the day your A/C compressor seizes but you're not listening to anything you've been told anyway.

Well, when cold weather arrives you may want to disconnect compressor electrically as a safeguard. Be neat if you posted a picture of the change you made.