I agree.As much as it would be "free", to do it badly, I think it is better not to do it at all.
Or, for that matter, do it right even if the final price goes up a very few dollars.
Desktop: to me: implies that you are near enough to it to not NEED a remote (however, I would be willing to pay a few extra $ for one, as there are other use cases).And anyway, imho, the main feature a true desktop amplifier needs is a remote control for volume and input select. Having to get up from the listening point to adjust volume is quite inconvenient...
I do not have a remote on my main system, getting up and changing settings is not something I do often and for me it is not onerous. But there are folks, (like my mother) for whom it would be onerous if they had to do it every time they used the system.
As it is, she makes her selection of input (because I likely have it on a different selection than she would use) & then does whatever she does while listening to music. (Sitting & listening doesn't happen with her, she is always doing something other than just sitting).