This is not true, as a rule, even if it is true here. Sibling comments point out that the void left by the missing connector would be tricky to fill.

There are a variety of other reasons that it might not be worth their time to change or omit the $.08 connector, but it would be worth their time to remove e.g. the expensive $3 voltage regulator IC.

But to your point, the same logic may be applied to the sticker-vs-PCB tradeoff, and it may turn out that they are identical. Someone disassembling them and comparing the circuits would be able to determine between the two cases.