Looks like a square trim piece to me, and looks nice.

Quarter round is a way to cover up the gaps from production style floor installation.

In a true custom build, you wouldn't need it. Place trim first, leaving just enough room for the flooring to slip under.

Since you're being charged to remove the quarter-round, consider using door stop instead of quarter round to change the look and save the two grand for something more meaningful.

Unpainted quarter round, it hides the scuffs from the vacuum cleaner.

What is pictured is not quarter round. I would not want it at all. Looks bulky & clutsy. I really, really dislike quarter round. Base shoe moulding is a better choice but I would not want it either.

I'm assuming the $2K upcharge to do without is because of labor cost to properly scribe the base to the floor so you don't need any moulding other than the base.

You could also remove it yourself. It’s not difficult. Just need a prybar and then putty the holes.

Don't do it. Who needs two dust collecting surfaces?

Remove the quarter round after you build, you'll end up with lots of irregular gaps in he flooring. Quarter round is used to cover those gaps.

You want the look of a base that has been SCRIBED to the wood floor? You won't get it unless a very high end custom build. It's too labor intense. There is no floor so perfectly level- hence? The scribe : ) or gaps.

Stain a small square trim to match the floor or base, cover the gaps, or live with gaps.

Have to agree the pic is not showing any quarter-round. McGee has a TON more money than most to get the scribe correct w/o trim to camouflage the gaps that are always left behind...leave it as is. Move on.

It would be good to know your DOOR and window casings selections........that is another directive in base treatment. Hip bone, thigh bone.....

If needed to cover an open joint, use a “shoe” not a quarter round

A shoe is rounded but taller than it is deep