ROL -- yes, those little bat thingies DO keep the metal doohickies from falling off. It won't take you long to start cussing the metal doohickies if you don't use them! They fall out SO easily otherwise! And those black thingies are easy to get off -- I don't use a screwdriver (never one where I need it anyway) -- I push in on one side and pull on the other side....it'll pop out.
BTW - I JUST, 2 days ago, had my DH hang a white pegboard in my shop and I was dealing with the little black thingies and the metal doohickies!