Do I need to tape a drywall plug?
I think the question you're asking is whether the joint compound will crack around the plugs if you don't tape the joint. 

Probably. 

But that depends on:


How well you replace the plugs. If you don't center them perfectly, leaving uniform gaps, the joint compound has nowhere to go  in the tight spots and you're left with a paper-thin skin on the surface that's sure to crack. 
How well you press mud into the gap. Same reason. 
Your climate. Extremes of temperature and humidity will probably crack untaped joints. 
How you use the lath. If you use just one the plugs can move more and will probably crack. If you use two, well spaced, and 8 screws, probably not. 


What I'd do:

Since it's only 17 plugs, run a strip of tape down one side, and a strip down the other, covering as much joint as possible with the two. The remaining untaped joint segments will be short enough that they're not likely to crack. This will take very little time. A 12" or larger knife will allow you to make a nice wide second coat over everything and end up with a finish that will require very little sanding.