The idea is to use the cubby area. If you cut out the "pocket" its unlikely you could reach the items you have stored in it standing at the rear bumper. This is a lasercut design that was planned & tested not simply thrown together.
Hey Hammered I like the paddle handle. Looks nice and clean. I bought your old passenger-side red box with the black top and Jeep Fiend stickers quite some time ago. Like an idiot I sold it with my old Jeep. Any chance of making me 2 boxes (driver & pass). Shoot me a PM if your interested. Thanks - Harry