So with 1.03 bars and expected bind toward the end of range of motion, is it acceptable to have just MOST of the ROM ok and a little bind in the extremes? As the suspension will normally live in the middle?
In theory yes. Since all of the suspension components, including the LCA and strut rod, are moving in different arcs there will be binding at some point if the ROM is large enough. The goal should be to minimize binding as much as possible, especially in the majority of the normal range of travel.
That being said, I've always been able to get the full ROM pretty much free of binding since you're only talking about 5" to 5.5" of suspension travel. The ROM on my cars has been recentered around the lowered ride height, but like on my Duster even though the car is lowered close to 2" the ROM from bump stop to bump stop remains pretty much the same as the factory set up, so the suspension travel remains close to the same amount.