Is the Master Track necessary?

[radiopoet]

I mix OTB and use an analog summing chain. I like to use two channels in the center of the Mix window named "Analog Return" and "Mix Print". I usually hide the Master and un assign its output to hardware 1 and 2, using the "Mix Print" track assigned to hardware out 1 and 2 instead.

I've started to get some instances of projects not wanting to open and some other uncharacteristic funny business (Reaper is usually rock steady) and am wondering if Reaper doesn't like me not assigning anything to its Master.

Could folks in the know comment on whether this makes any difference?

Thanks for the bandwidth, folks.