I guess I better get my lazy ass up and go to work Later

As long as I did not tamper with the motor mount adj. bolts it should be aligned as it was when removed. Correct?

Ypu'd think so, but it's not worth chewing up a coupler, or a gimbal bearing if you don't have to.......IMHO

I agree, since you have access to the tool. Is it really worth the chance of having to pull the motor back out later if the coupler or bearing goes out in order to save a couple of minutes? Only takes 10 seconds to try it. Besides, the alignment may have been off a bit when you removed the motor.

If the coupler is ragged out it may check good one time and afer rolling it around or loading it check bad. The coupler can be "loose" and give false alignement readings.

Can someone address the issue of " If you're off side to side...........". Both me and a Buddy of mine have experienced this problem with Mercrusier drives. Up and down alignment is fine. Is there an easy fix? How critical is side to side vs up/down?

Side to side is just as critical as up and down. Remember, your working with a rotating mass, not stationary, so it does not see a directional orientation.