Alignment

The reality is that the links do not have to be any more vertical than they are. They transmit the torque loads quite well at an 8-9* angle; the anti-sway force at the ends with the link angle shown is 98.7% of the force if the link is perfectly vertical. As long as the total angle from vertical stays at 13-14 degrees or less, the anti-sway force will say at 97% or higher of maximum possible force. This is not a Formula 1 car.

As mounted, as the suspension bumps up, the link is going to angle a bit more from vertical and angle back a bit. As the suspension droops, the link is going to angle out a bit and angle back a bit. The links are angling around all the time as the suspension moves. So keeping the link as long as they are is necessary to keep the link angles from becoming too severe. So I also don't see how this can be changed with this bar location on the K member, as noted above.

I'd just look for any binding of the links to the strut rod as the suspension (as the OP has found), and if OK, then run with it. The rubbing of that washer to the strut rod could be a wear item, so I think you are right to be concerned and work to solve that particular item. Changing rubber biscuit thickness and spacer length or adding washers could do the trick.