Interesting read and photos!

Hi,
at 255k miles you did all you could to make it last, some people cannot
make one last 100k miles. Takes driving skill and self discipline, it is
tempting to be hard on the machinery sometimes. (it's more fun)
 The wavy spring is called a marcel, I could not say what the origin is
but it sure sounds like a french word (any one in the Great White North
care to translate?). Its purpose is to lengthen and soften the engagement
of the clutch and make it easier to modulate, but I don't think it has
anything to do with helping to release the clutch. Think of disc brakes,
there is no mechanism to pull the pads back but the flex of the piston seal  
o ring/square cut seal and they don't drag very much when in contact with
the discs.
 Keep up the good work
 Scott