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Anybody know what kind of rotational backlash is acceptable on the distributor? In troubleshooting by rough running issue I suddenly noticed there's quite a bit of rotational slop in the distributor cam

What you believe to be rotational slop is almost certainly the functioning of the centrifugal advance mechanism. The cam is connected to the lower shaft thru the advance mechanism. Pull the breaker plate and take a look.

If you want to check to see if the centrifugal advance is functioning, put your timing light in the front pulley and rev the engine, just disable the vacuum advance first.

Yeah, I see where there's some slop (not as much) on the distributor on my '50 Ford. Well, at this point I'm really grasping at straws.

I had a similar issue rough at higher rpm until I discovered that the "hidden" or hard to get at hex-head capscrew holding the distributor to the block, the one toward the rear, was loose. The easy to get to screw toward the front was tight.

I also thought this issue was caused because the choke spring didn't function properly and instead of keeping the choke open after the engine was hot, allowed it to flip-flop open-and-close at higher speeds. I had to be moving to make this happen.

Maybe check to eliminate.
edit
Or be amused starting with post #391 on the Duchess project
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... at&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=390

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Thanks for pointing that out. It sounds like that other guy had the same problem. However that cap screw seems to be secure on mine. I think it's a half inch hex and I couldn't move it . Also the distributor is not moving when I try to turn it with my hands.