Removing the bathtub will severely limit the people who will consider buying your home. And you don't know that you might not need a tub in the future for yourself. It's foolish to not have one.

I doubt your one bedroom home is going to attract young families who would need a tub. And pets can be cleaned in a shower, as long as there's a door. A luxurious large shower with beautiful tile, shiny fixtures (both separate rain head and handheld shower heads), glass enclosure, and no threshold, will most likely be as attractive to the majority of buyers who are looking for a one bedroom. If you are gong to stay in the condo for 5+ years, it won't really matter, because whoever buys it will consider it dated and want to renovate. So make it what you need, now, and don't worry about resale, unless you're selling it soon.

Thanks for the suggestions. In the case that I do make the shower larger, is a bench a good idea?

A small bench is a great idea - and so is the rain shower as long as it will give you enough pressure for a great shower (there are many that do). As for bath vs. shower, we typically advise our clients with just one bathroom to keep the tub - people do look for it upon resale, but I agree with the folks above, if you're staying for awhile, do what works best for you.