You can hide the icon by bringing up the task bar properties.
Right click on task bar and choose properties. Click costumiize and you can then highlight any of the icons and change their properties, to show always,hide always or hide when inactive.
no, i have a wireless network adapter, but i think its just annoying to see that eject usb icon all the time. it also shows up when i plug in my digital camera. i thought there was an easy way just to get rid of it.