100% agree. That's why the bearings were actually the first thing I checked and they're torqued to 68ft-lbs to get 14.7lbs of break away and seem tight don't have really any play in them. It's really weird because you're right -- the c-clip doesn't keep the hub from moving, it keeps the
axle from moving. However, after reinstalling the c-clip there was a noticeable reduction in play. So honestly I'm kinda at a loss for words as to how it helped. Obviously the axle no longer clunks, but I still don't quite understand how that could've caused the rotor wear. Maybe the missing c-clip allowed for like 2mm of movement and that was enough to cause the gouging??? All I know is I don't have nearly as much play (the little bit remaining is from the stretched c-clip, but like I said I have more on the way) and my brakes no longer grind