No. That's not what I am saying at all.
The ecu has timing tables based off base timing. It will advance or retard timing based on load and rpm. During this advance it will retard timing based on detected knock.
So without the knock sensor it won't retard the timing when knock is detected...
I doubt it retards it beyond base. But shouldn't it be capable of retarding it from it's advanced state while accelerating?
Ie: based on load, airflow, and rpm the ecu calculates timing needed is 21*. The knock sensor is detecting knock at 21 so the ecu retards until knock disappears.