I think taking the rear derailleur off the hanger is the way to avoid derailleur issues. It's just a matter of removing one screw. It will still be in adjustment when you get there and put it back on. Whereas if the derailleur is on the bike, there is much higher chance of having a bent hanger when you get there. That's a much more serious repair.
My shifting problems in 2011 weren't due to the derailleur, I packed my bike in such a way that the adjuster at the head tube broke and shifting was a lot less precise.