I've driven three cars with No Front Plate, in San Diego over the last 15 years or so.
After two years, the first car got two fix-it tickets to have the front plate installed. I had to mount the plate and appear at the police station to have it cleared.
I drove the second car (no front plate) for four years without any tickets, and sold it with no front plate.
The third car (Lotus Elise) had no easy way to mount a front plate. It saw fewer miles, but also went four years without a front plate -- no tickets.
So it seems to depend largely on where you drive, where you park, and maybe even what kind of car it is.
Front plates are ugly. Chose your own level of comfort, but I'd rather get a fix-it now and then and keep the front of the car clean and aerodynamic.
The ticket cameras shoot both sides anyway, as does the FastTrak camera system. I don't know what the big deal is.