I think the idea for him is to keep as much off-road capability as possible, but also be a better on-road bike. I am familiar with this mentality, as I am trying to do the same thing with my Hawk to some degree.
vickytulla - with those rim locks removed, have you considered converting to a Tubliss setup? This would give you the same benefits of a rim lock, eliminate the inner tube, and be perfect for road use as well. These have actually been tested with the tire at 0 psi, and it held up for over 30 miles off and on road use without failure.
http://tubliss.com/tubliss/