how would (could?) you remove the touchpad?

[Georgeolivergo]

As I sit here typing on my x41 and contemplate a future where I have to use a laptop with a touchpad, I get a crazy thought which leads me to my question:

How would you completely remove the touchpad from a model such as the x220, x230, etcetera?

Is it even possible to modify a palmrest from, say, a T40 to fit into an x220?

OK, maybe (probably) this is a dumb question, but forget for a moment that I could build a very capable touchpad-less Frankenpad that (maybe) could perform on par with newer Thinkpads for my purposes (programming, game developing, web browsing, etcetera), and imagine with me a future of touchpad-less 2013+ Thinkpads...

Can it be done?

Do I need to wait for Apple to release a touchpad-less Air with touchscreen, 3D haptic feedback, and/or mini-neural interface so everyone can follow suit?

I'd appreciate any advice.

[RealBlackStuff]

The touchpad will not go away, but the trackpoint might...
If you don't like the touchpad, find a piece of plastic in the same color as the palmrest (a palmrest from any other laptop without touchpad), cut out a piece in the shape of your X220 touchpad, and glue that over the 'old' touchpad.
That way you won't see it so much.
Alternatively, disable the touchpad or learn to live with it, but ignore its presence.
I doubt very much that there's a fitting palmrest w/o touchpad from another laptop that would fit your machine.