steering wheel - alignment

No need to get upset, I'm just stating the facts. This isn't a "whatever", what you're describing could be a safety issue.

If you can clock your wheel on the steering shaft, the master spline is not working. The whole purpose of the master spline is so that you can't do that, so if you can just re-clock the wheel the master spline is not working. Coupled with the fact that you can wiggle your steering wheel loose without a puller, I'd say you've got damaged splines either on the steering shaft or on your steering wheel adaptor. And that could also be why the master spline isn't working. Something's been modified on your car, either the master spline has been defeated or the splines on one end or the other are so worn that they no longer register the master spline.

So you can get mad at me, or you can check your car to make sure it's safe. Based on your description, it might not be. If it's just that the master spline has been filed down, not a big deal. But the last thing you want is for your steering wheel to be loose on the splines. A steering wheel puller should absolutely be needed to remove the wheel on these cars unless you have a Tuff wheel or rimblow wheel. And if that's the case, the wheel can be removed with three nuts, but the crush can adaptor will require a puller. The splined part, whether that be the steering wheel or the adaptor, should take a puller to remove.
Not mad at all! And I do have a tuff wheel. I honestly could not give 2 ***** how the problem is fixed, I was just trying to suggest an easier way. You obviously know more about it than me, so I'm done. Your suggestions are obviously better. No hard feelings!