How do I remove a Public Folder Store from and Exchange 2003 SP2 Front End server to resolve the Mail-Enabled Public Folder issue?

I am looking for the best way to remove the Public Folder Store from my
Exchange 2003 SP2 Front End Server.

Environment
I have a single Exchange 2003 SP2 Back End Server (Windows 2003 R2
Server Enterprise Edition)
The Back End Exchange Server has a single Public Folder Store.
I recently installed an Exchange 2003 SP2 Front End Server (Windows
2003 R2 Server Enterprise Edition)

Issue
E-mail delivery from internet addresses to Mail-Enable Public folders
on the Back-End server has stopped.

What I have done so far
I verified all permissions on the mail-enabled public folders are
correct
I dismounted the Front End Server Public Folder Store from within the
Exchange System Manager
I left the Front End Server Mailbox Store Mounted
I changed the location of the Front End Server Mailbox Store's
associated Public Folder Store to the Back End Server

Current State
Mail delivery to mail enabled public folders from internet addresses is
still not working.
Messages sit in on the Front End server Local Delivery Queue
The only mailboxes on the Front End Servers Mailbox Store are the
System Mailboxes
The only Public Folders in the Public Folder Store on the Front End
server are the System Folders

Next Steps
I am planning to completely remove the Front End Server's Public Folder
Store
I know of a couple of options that I have.

Option 1
Mount the Front End Public Folder Store
Move All Replicas to the Back End server
Delete the Public Folder Store

Option 2
Use ADSI Edit and remove the entry for Public Folders under:

CN=Configuration ->
CN={domain}
CN=Services ->
CN=Microsoft Exchange ->
CN={Organization Name} ->
CN=Administrative Groups ->
CN={Admin Group Name}
CN=Servers ->
CN={Front End Server} ->
CN=First Storage Group ->
REMOVE: CN=Public Folder Store {Front End Server}

At this point I have concerns about attempting either of these actions.

Is removing the Front End Public Folder Store the right thing to do to
solve this issue?
What possible problems will I see if I choose either of the above
options?
Is the information in either of the options incorrect?
Should I be moving the Front End Replicas to the Back End server?
If I use ADSI Edit is there also something I need to do with the Folder
Heirarchies msExchPFTree?
Is there a preferred method for removing a Front End Public Folder
Store?
Is there is anything else I should have done or not done up to this
point in time?

.

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