Dont use the slim rom. Its garbage. The guy took too much out and it breaks alot of things. As far as removing apps is concerned. Dont remove them just go to applications manager and turn them off. All the samsung, carrier, and printer apps can be turned off without hurting functionality. Outside of those, if the option exists to turn it off, chances are it wont hurt the phone. As far as ota's are concerned all stock apps must be turned on in order to recieve them but if you are on ANK3 software already, there hasnt been 1 since november.