.... Uhh. May have mis-read your post. If that old balun is only
being used as a center insulator, not 'in-line' with the ladder-line,
then while it will still be providing some sort of 'impedance bump'
because it's too close to the ladder-line, it shouldn't be doing any
impedance transforming (the 4:1 thingy to an 8:1 thingy).
Objectionable? Beats me, but probably, too many "depends" in that for
a good guess.
- 'Doc

PS - Leaving it-line, but not really doing anything, DOES open the
field for all kinds of 'reasons why it's there' when explaining the
set up to an interested observer! Can you imagine the B.S. you could
invent for that??