Remove Removed From Output

Question

How might I remove Removed[..] symbols from the output of an expression?

For example

Clear[b]; b := Sin[a + a]; Remove[a];
b

Sin[2 Removed[a]]

Now as discussed in the story of removed symbols, Removed[a] aren't functions with Heads but symbols with special forms.

This works for catching the symbols.

b /. Cases[b, s_Symbol :> (s :> a), {0, Infinity}, Heads -> True]

But how might I generalize this to all symbols?

Here is my evolving code. ToString[s] == Removed should likely be generalized, but more importantly I can't seem to prevent s:>newHead from going unevaluated.

Replace[b,
 HoldPattern[s_Symbol] :>
  With[{newHead = If[ToString[s] === "Removed[a]"
        a, b
      ]},
    s :> newHead /; True], Infinity
 ]

Answer 1

I think you can use something like this:

b /. s_Symbol /; ! StringQ@MakeBoxes@s :>
       Symbol @ StringTake[ToString@s, {9, -2}]

Sin[2 a]

If a has a value and you don't want a to evaluate in the replacement you'll need something more. This is the best I could think of:

a = "Fail!";  (* this should not appear in the output *)

Module[{hold},
 SetAttributes[hold, HoldAll];
 Hold @@ {b} /. s_Symbol /; ! StringQ@MakeBoxes@s :>
    RuleCondition@ToExpression[StringTake[ToString@s, {9, -2}], InputForm, hold] /.
  {hold[x_] :> x}
]

Hold[Sin[2 a]]

Hold @@ {b} is just an example.