Making do without the P&H is probably possible... but the derived small rumors and loose information it did provide will, if not handled, create a massive load on the GM's.
Similarly, being able to OOC track events and progress is also unifying, so that it is US who plays, and not individual smaller groups vs. GM.
A distributed knowledge variation could take its place.
I guess my main advice is to avoid being the sole point of information on a 1to1 basis. :-)