Jamo Ron you also have one of the top FE builders that built your motor.
As far as the Distributor, the reason I do a complete swap is if the electronic goes bad inside. It's a lift up and down setup and 1 connection.
The chevy roll pin is also a great idea that alot of guys used. I have seen the smaller MSD pin break in the gear. If the pin breaks easiest way to check with the IGNITION OFF and COIL WIRE PULLED is to try and spin the rotor. If you can turn it more than a 1/4" either way, it could be broken.
IMO the bronze gear is the safer of the other gears for having less damage in the motor. Bronze is softer than iron or steel. If a piece gets into a bearing surface it will do little to no damage to the crankshaft.
If worried about a bronze gear wearing the easy thing to do is after the
oil change, drain the filter and cut it open. Look for gold flakes in the folds. They sell filter magnets that stick to the side of the
oil filter. You would be surprised to how much micro partials are caught with this thing. Not cheap but whats $40.00 buck more to protect $20-25,000.00 motor. Rick L.