Replacing my distributor first time

No the rotor doesn't matter, either. What matters is that the rotor is firing the no1 plug when it should be. I've said this before.......you could throw the gear in with your eyes closed, then toss the dist in right after it. Then line up your timing "where you want timing" static, throw the no1 plug wire at the rotor IF YOU have no1 piston on compression, and it will run.

Since this dist doesn't look much factory, it really isn't right or wrong......unless a couple of wires are short and you have to rotate things to get them to fit

Yes, the rotor does matter. If you don't want to fart with the wires, then the rotor HAS to point at the wire that was firing when he removed the old dizzy, so, line that up, move the gear to line up with the blade and, poof, it runs!

Del...not here to argue...has worked for me, many times. Do it whatever way you like. Just sayin'.......