Part of the pilot light circuit is a safety for the main gas valve. If the flame detector, be it a thermocouple, infrared, etc. cannot sense a pilot flame it also cannot sense the main flame, and if it cannot sense the main flame, you run the risk of dumping gas through an orifice that does not burn. In essence, you allow a small gas leak.

Not a good idea to modify the burner, too much risk.

Better to find out why the pilot is so sensitive and hard to light, or replace the IR heaters with better units.

This opinion is worth $0.02.