While I have not deleted it (would save a whole 50ms anyway on my system) I edit mine to colourise the squares at the bottom and include the version and build number and early release if necessary.

The file is a BMP file with a resolution of 640pixels x 260pixels, but with a DIB extension.

I also have a script the put the colour version back after each update (Which should be dropping any time now)

paulo

soens
Still there. Go to Prefs - Files - Advanced - Show start screen

I may have misunderstood here, but I don't think the "splash" screen that is being referred to and the start screen are the same thing.
 
Plat is very slow to open for me too, I didn't realise quite how slow it had gotten compared to previous versions until I opened 8.5 recently to try and help someone in another thread. 

Oooopsy! I was hoping no one would notice.... but you are right. If you don't want the splash screen to show you can rename it anything you want and Sonar will think its missing, or you can just move it to another folder.