Rubber strip behind pop-up headlights?

[AlphaAssault]

there is a rubber piece of trim in the engine bay just behind the pop-up headlights. Mine are both dried out and cracking, and one is almost completely torn from its plastic base. I was curious as to what purpose those pieces serve, and if i could get away with just removing them instead of replacing them. Anyone know?

 

[Defiant]

They may be to keep the doors from freezing shut when snowed on. At the least, they're water stops. Are they too contoured to just replace with sheet rubber from the hardware store.

 

[AndrewD5418]

I think Machv and dsmgraveyard sells them.