Stand questions?

Like this...Excuse the edit skills.



Don't lay the 2X4 flat or it won't have as much strength.

 

The 2x4 isnt really doing much where it is. It can be removed, but drop that shelve to the bottom to keep legs from spreading. Next I would add 2x4s to the inside corner of those 1x4s from just under the top to the floor. Basically added another leg.

 

+1 to strengthening it.
the shelf on the bottom doesnt look real strong. the frame someone mentioned would help. make sure its properly supported.
and the frame around the top doesnt seem to be seem to be sitting on anything, just relying on the fastners in shear, which isnt great. tying them together like mentioned above probably isnt a bad idea too.
if the member you want to take out is doing anything, it might be helping brace the whole thing length ways, so just make sure it doesnt sway after you take it out.
might be a good idea to put some kind of backing on it to brace it a bit more anyway, at least on the sides if you can.
obviously its hard to tell from photos so you'll have to judge yourself if all this is warranted.
but try to think of what could happen if it fails instead of how much work it will be to add some extra pieces.