No, dying effects can NOT be optional. They are controlled server side. The rendering is done on the client, but the server still controls all the effects - which effects are created and when & where. I am still talking about dying ships, don't argue "I can change my gun effect". You can do that, but you still can't change your dying effects. Why? Because it's a bloody server-side thing, that's why.
(If it wasn't server-side, I could just make my VHF "keep dying" for half an hour without ill effects, becoming invulnerable in the meantime. Not a good thing, I believe.)