If you need a brake, yes boys and girls, that is B*R*A*K*E as in whoa, you don't need the rifle.
I think it's a hoot to read some of the supposedly "expert" opinions where the goober can't even spell what he's talking about.
While the ability to handle recoil is more often a matter of acclimation that comes from shooting more than a box a year, it is certainly not a macho thing. But then, neither is buying some unneeded cannon that you're afraid to shoot without it being doctored up.

While I don't have a brake equiped rifle, I am curious if a removeable brake equipped rifle shoots differently with and without the brake attached?

Westernmassman ----- I shoot several rifles with Brakes and none of them will shoot to the same POI without the brake. With some it is very little (1 to 2 inchs) difference, but with more than one it is a considerable difference. One of my rifles will change considerably (off a 11 X 11 target) with just a loose brake. The trick if you are going to take the brake off to hunt is to shoot it enough to determine that change. I do not find it hard to use hearing protection at the moment of the shot for Deer and Elk hunting because usually for the Elk it is one shot and for Deer one shot per Deer with fewer than 3 for a season. Good shooting.