oil cooler/warmer

[scourge at cogeco.ca (Scourge)]

Ok then....so I just looked at my oil cooler/warmer thingy and realized that
it hose that goes from it to the water pump is gone....lol. The holes have
just been capped off. The other hose going to flange on the front of the
block is still there. So all this time......ah well.
The question: Should I grab the proper hose(I have a spare on another
engine) to install when I put my new block in? Or should I just go without.
Now, I know they leak sometimes(I've never had it happen, knock on plastic).
And some people say all they do is heat the oil up faster. Others say they
keep the oil cool because the coolant is not as hot as the oil. Some say
they don't do shit!  lol. I would like to go with an external cooler, but
that's not going to happen until next year. And FWIW I will be running
synthetic in the motor.

So, input? Good and bad is all appreciated.

thanx
-George