JimG:
PS - don't disconnect the speakers unless you put load resistors (10K maybe) in their places. Otherwise you will short Vcc directly to GND when a button is pressed.
Do you mean the actual physical speaker unit here? Because if so, I've done exactly that. I've clipped off the speaker. So you say I need to have a 10K resistor between the two dangling wires?
Things work as they are currently configured - but I guess I'm reducing the longevity of the speaker unit at the moment? Or?