Thats what switching esc is for. Its just as easy as its always been to click. You click the icon, not the bubble. You see perfectly fine because icons are red and blue.
It's not like i haven't tried removing the skill bubble before.
perphaps it has no effect on you, but i'd think it would for people that use skill bubble to determine what skill the monster is mostly likely using by (instinctively) counting the pulses. the pulses will be less visible (you must concentrate on the smaller icon instead of the large bubble) with the skill bubble gone. Also since there is less actually light coming from any color other than white on a monitor, it will be harder to notice the icon (and determine what skill it is at the same) on monsters in your peripheral vision. I'm just saying that, for me, it slowed my reaction time when i removed the skill bubble myself.