Yeah, no doubt. Stuff the blades on that count. I mean, you're the dragonborn, so do the blades kneel before you or not? I decided once to just off Daphne and Esbern instead. Turns out they're essential even after they are not needed for quests anymore, so that wasn't possible, but I had the satisfaction of successfully FUS RO DAHing them off the mountain. Course, then I couldn't fast travel away because enemies nearby, so I had to hoof it for awhile with them in pursuit, but I eventually got away.