The inductor is a key component of a boost converter, you can’t just remove it 
.
Depends on a lot of factors: inductance, resistance, saturation current, source voltage and resistance, etc.
The ICs are generally pretty simple, so they’re “tuned” to certain parameters based on assumptions, eg, running from an alkaleak, powering an LED, certain physical size for the inductor, etc. So there’s a range of inductors where the circuit Just Works. A physically bigger 100µH inductor might have a lower resistance and higher saturation current, and act differently.