Why do some people repaint their cars and have the make and model insignias removed permanently - Gang-banger types do this Is it done to make it harded to identify a car in a crime?

Not sure about others, but in my case I am rebuilding a vehicle from scratch up to show car standard. The entire body was stripped back, the original badging has been removed, along with certain vents removed and plated over, along with trimwork and all holes were filled before the repaint so that the lines of the vehicle remain totally streamlined and are not marred by irregular bits (in the form of badging) hanging off it. With a $10,000 paint job the last thing you want to do is draw attention away from the finish.