Plug looks fine to me, certainly not rich.
Removing the snorkel will increase the air speed through the venture in the carb (killing torque, increasing PEAK power) and disturb the static air reserve in the airbox. You have to remember every and I mean every component contributes a little bit to the performance and blindly fucking with a part of it will upset a dozen others and mess the balance costing power. Currently your bike engine is optimised to run economically and predictably, your aiming to change that and that will cost.
My Suzuki as example, TTS removed parts of the intake snorkel and ended up leaving part of it in as it tuned the airbox into the sweet zone. After they had optimised it for performance it had loads of power, ran great at all revs........and used 40% more fuel on average, 20mpg was possible. I got lower than that at the TT.
Just try using the needle jet for now, decide on a route you know close to your house, ride it a few times then do your changes and ride it again. Noting what you have done, snorkel out, jet needle lifted 1. Then on the next run lift it again, you should feel a difference. Good or bad is down to your opinion.
Only if the needle cannot give the mixture you need will you need jets, then go again with different needle positions but start low and move up.