3.2 dizzy with no advance springs

[Deadeye]

I'm running a 3.2 mostly stock engine in my track car. It has 964 cams and a SW chip in the stock Motronic ECU. The stock dist has no advance springs on the advance arms. I've been running it this way for two years (came this way from PO) with no apparent problems other than a somewhat rough idle. Am I correct that the advance weights are only used to retard the idle slightly at idle? Also, after reading some horror stories about catastrophic sudden failures of these distributors, how much vertical play is acceptable on the shaft?

[E Sully]

DME handles all timing. 3.2 advance is discussed in this post.
3.2 distributor mechanical advance, why???

[Deadeye]

Ed, I kept up with that thread when it was active and have re read it, but I'm still not clear ( and there are differing opinions) on the need for the springs. I guess I'll call Aaron @ Burn Bros and discuss with him.