Leave it out if you’re solo or learn to do a little hybrid picking or Travis picking of the melody. I mostly leave them out but will do the Travis picking when the melody is fairly easy to reach. I know guys who start wailing away on the lead for several bars without any rhythm. The audience loses interest in about 5 seconds.
Unless your Chet Atkins, you gotta know your limits.
. Heck, even he said all the money is in the fist 5 frets.