I just removed the front derailleur on my '14 Pugs. I have a 26T chain ring on the front (using a non-original square taper FSA crank set with 64/104 BCD)...I just removed the 36T middle "large" ring and it's working well. I bought an 11-40 Sunrace 9-sp cassette and this gives me a gear inch range of about 19 to 75 or so...which is enough for me. I don't ever spin out on this bike with 75 gear inches -- this isn't the bike I ride fast. So the 1x9 with the 26T works well for me.
I'm using a derailleur that really shouldn't work -- a Shimano RD-T4000. This is rated for a 34T large sprocket and it cleared the large sprocket on my old 12-36 cassette just fine -- even withOUT a B screw. I did have to put the B screw back in it and run it in a little bit to clear the 40T, but it works with PLENTY of clearance -- I'm pretty happy about that.
So yeah...poor man's 1x setup. I've never dropped a chain; it works great. I can take a few pictures if you'd to see details.