True - you *can* keep the A/C if you're careful with your design and parts selection... Your upper intake (elbow), motor mounts, fan, radiator, and water pump all dictate clearance for the A/C. So if A/C is important, you just need to 'design it in' to your swap.
I suppose I could have kept A/C in the truck, but that would have probably requred an electric fan (possibly a 'pusher' configuration), a 45 degree elbow on the upper plenum for air intake, and messing with the radiator & motor mount placement to make room for the condensor. I might have also considered an electric water pump instead of a mechanical... but...
I live in New York and use my 5.0 X mostly for trails and hunting, so I decided A/C was not worth the extra effort. In hindsight, that decision saved me a lot of work and money, and it made everything else in the engine compartment a little easier to get to.
Cheers!
-Graham