[WildTurkey]

Take a Prius, remove all the hybrid gear, and it would likely get better fuel economy (thus less pollutants) overally.

It would be a stretch for you to prove your point bu t let's just leave it with 'It would not have enough power to get out of it's own way ...'

[B Knotts]

I think you're right about that. Which shows that the true reason for the hybrid gear is simply to give it more power.