Flexing a Flex Plate?

I could care less what Ford and Chevy did.
I'm talkin about a 360. And as for a clutch acting like a torque converter I don't hardly think so. You are not putting pressure on that Center thrust bearing with the clutch assembly until you push in the clutch pedal and put pressure against the pressure plate.
The torque converter is directly connected to the crankshaft.

The end of my 360 crank and torque converter hub would disagree with you. When I get a chance I’ll post up pictures of both and the wear marks where the hub was rubbing on the crank.