just need a quick confirmation on my idiocy

Post 34 is how the cars came out of the factory. The picture of post 37 is how it should look when done correctly. This allows the vacuum can to rotate to its proper position without hitting the intake manifold [on some manifolds]. Snug down the distributor clamp bolt so you can rotate the distributor when the engine fires up.

George Jets; sweet looking engine!

All factory LA small blocks distributors have the shaft tang and the rotor offset by about 15 degrees.