for plug removal, if you haven't yet - remove rear wheels and do a 'partial drop' of the motor from the rear mounts, gives you substantially greater plug removal access. Driver's side still a bit of a hooor regardless fersuredly.
I once had the tiny plug 'tip' fall off (on the hardest to get #1 butofcourse) and wedge itself between the head and the plug's hex, unbeknownst to me - THAT was a "good time"... lol - just an fyi/beware 8)
I'm no rocket scientist but I don't think 3/16" dizzy shaft axial play is a concern, radial is more the issue. Your rotor was def cooked, and where there's smoke there's fire - I'd swap the cap too if you're not (tho I assume you can 'read' yours well enough to tell).
The rear cap clip def sucks colossal baulz to do / undo - worse than pubescent us fumbling with a bra strap certainly. If you've got ginormous meathooks for mits, consider enlisting a household resident midget with smaller hands to assist. Me, I went crankfire and rid'd alllll of alllll of allll that
That one plug you posted looks super sooty. Def pull the rest & compare / clean / determine why.
You're on the right track and your car will be grateful for it and you'll appreciate the toils of your efforts - don't rush getting it off the lift, do what it takes / needs. You got this
ps. it's conventional (required / demanded?) here to post pics of one's car when seeking advice
Chop chop...