just need a quick confirmation on my idiocy

That’s right...not every distributor has the rotor lined up with the slot on the shaft. You have to turn the gear so the slot let’s the rotor point where you want it.

You can’t always go by the book.

100% correct on the rotor to drive tang orientation/alignment. MSD don't always line up using the book procedure.

Spin the oil pump drive to get your rotor to the correct orientation