It has come to light that the instructions I got with my sway bar were for older models of the F3 which DID NOT HAVE those extra bolts. The new instructions that come with the bar now include the necessity to pull the shields and the removal of those "extra" bolts regardless of your clearance. I still give the old instructions a C+ grade. I have been able to read the new instructions which included the necessary removal of those "extra" pins and shields and give them a A-.
No harm no foul.