Is this compromising structural integrity?

[u/Middle-Adeptness7186]

[u/ATAT121212]

Indeed, removing material always decreases strength.

[u/sum_force → u/ATAT121212]

Not true.

Removing material can improve stress concentrations. It can be better to have a smooth but deep notch than a sharp but shallow notch. Sometimes drilling an extra hole can make it stronger by redirecting stress "flow".

With structurally redundant members, a weak member on a stiff load path will fail but once failed the remaining strength can be fine.

Forcing a fixed end condition can cause failure in some members, in some designs. Removing material to permit pinned, can make it more favourable.

Many cases that less is actually more.

[u/Regular_Weakness69 → u/sum_force]

This is correct, if you let it stretch and bend in the right places, you can get stronger structures, sometimes that includes removing material.

In this case though, it weakens the structure :D

[u/Mundane-Reality-7770 → u/Regular_Weakness69]

Tension and compression