[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

. . . without the plug in place one could just hot the condensor screw and run the other end to the ignition coil red wire to start the car.... just thinking out loud

The popout does more than disconnect the path from the coil to the dizzy. It also grounds that wire when you push the cylinder in to lock it. That is the anti-theft feature. Adding a parallel wire as you suggest would not work.