I started driving the other day and noticed what seemed like the
engine was missing.  I was travelling on the interstate and this
continued for the next couple hours.  It got worse and the car started
to miss when accelerating and hesitate under load.  I changed the
spark plugs (did not change the wires).  Eventually it got worse and
seemed like the car was not getting any fuel/power when I gave it
gas.  I decided to pull off the road to give it a break.  As I slowed
down it stalled out and would not start.  As I tried to restart the
car the battery died.  However, when the tow truck arrived I jumped
the battery and got it to start.  I had the car towed and  the
mechanic said the diagnostic machine indicated that the distributor
was bad.  To my knowledge there was no oil in the Distributor and the
mechanic said the bearings did the internal distributor damage that
was going to require a new distributor.  For some reason I don't think
it is the distributor but I am far from an expert.  Please help.
My questions are:

1. Would I have heard any sounds if the distributor went bad?
2. Could the symptoms listed be a pvc valve or air filter (neither
have been    changed for quite some time)?
3. Any other seggestions?