I've done the bumperette delete... and the result looks great.
Those rivets you speak of (and no you don't have to remove the entire aluminum bumper under the cover)... I started to try to drill them out and it was going to be a PITA. A moment of clarity led me to a nail punch. Positioned the punch over each "rivet", gave a smack with a hammer... and those "rivets" just popped out. Easy... all rivets took less than a minute.
The bumper cover, absent the bumperettes, will reveal those "holes". You'll need a delete "cover" (?) that will fill in where the plate goes. I got one off a member from this forum.
When you're ready to roll connect with me and I'll trace you out the pattern. You then source the plastic (maybe 20-some off inches wide by say 8 some odd inches high and, maybe, 1/4 inch thick. Trace... cut... sand... paint (?)... and install. Done.
I don't much log into the forum... so catch my attention otherwise and we'll get you rolling.
Edit: JB... you've become a pro with the wrap!