A couple of years ago that little hose on my 103 was going south - As I was calculating in my head the amount of labor involved in removing the water pump to replace it , my mechanic turned away from the car looking for something. Out came the hacksaw, to my utter amazement and disbelief that is exactly what he was going after - that 1/4" " TAIL" coming out of the pump - Assuring me with a smile all will be good...
Can't be , I am thinking - If it was designed that way, there must be a reason...

Took all of ten minutes for the whole job and has been well since (in that department).