Re: Several questions
"It still wants to drop idle" -- does this mean your idle speed is fluctuating? While the bad distributor might cause that, rough idle is often caused by air in-leakage around end-casting boots and/or gaskets. Spraying some quick-start around the boots and gaskets should indicate if you have an air in-leakage pretty easily, as the engine RPM will shoot up quickly.
I'd definitely check the valves before you do anything further. Impossible to tune carbs or timing if one (or more) of your valves aren't opening as much as the rest.
SVDA distributor should help, at any rate. 009's in my experience have been totally useless 
(which is unfortunate because they're so cheap and readily available... oh.. wait... I see a connection here...) SVDA's have saved my day more than once.
When I get sick, I don't even take Vitamin C or chicken soup any more. I gently swab my affected areas with an SVDA distributor and by morning, I'll be miraculously healed 
THEY ARE THAT GOOD!