The 'temp space', as you put it IS on disk, but if YOU delete the file/folder that contains the "unwanted" pieces it is no longer 'on disk'. Then, if a peer requests one of those pieces that the resume data declares that your client has and your client cannot locate it (because it is not where it should be) so will throw an error and/or force a recheck which results in the client having to re-download the MISSING piece that you deleted.why store it in a temp space when you can just flush it out to disk
If you do not intend to seed the torrent EVER AGAIN, you can do ANYTHING you like with the .unwanted folder or the PartFilennn.dat HOWEVER if you continue to seed or want to reload the task at ANY time in the future using BitTorrent whether it is qBittorrent, Vuze, uTorrent, BitTorrent, Deluge, Transmission, KTorrent, rTorrent, MLDonkey, Halite, etc. etc. YOU ABSOLUTELY, 100% MUST HAVE those "unwanted" pieces so the payload that you possess can be served to other peers.
Also if your client has a different method of handling cross file pieces those missing parts of the payload WILL start downloading when you restart the task.