Hi Derick.
Mapping sidewalks as separate ways is an approved proposal giving it the highest status of legitimacy in this community. Sidewalks do not have to be separated from the highway to be mapped as a separate way. As the wiki states, a sidewalk mapped as a separate way is a refinement of footway tags. Allowing more detail to be added than is possible with highway tags alone. I would suggest you have a read of https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Sidewalks before continuing. If you wish to discuss the mapping of sidewalks I would suggestion you do so on the forums as there is a ongoing conversation. 

If you do choose to remove these sidewalks then I have to agree with rskedgell that it cannot be described as anything other than vandalism. These sidewalks are perfectly acceptable and in many ways preferable to tags on the highway.

Kind regards,
Kits