TE/TC Stillwell linkage guard

I've had the Stillwell guard on my TE250 since its B-Day. Last week I finally got a chance to test it out on a very jagged rock and I just slid right over. It did what it was supposed to do.

However, I was cleaning the bike (on a stand with weight off wheels) the other day and noticed that, with some force, you can push/pull the guard laterally by 1-2mm. Upon further inspection I noticed that the sleeves that go through the bearings are all touching the linkage components as required, but it appears that the guard it sliding on the sleeve.

I called both Stillwell and Fastway and Fastway confirmed that it was designed that way and it is to have that lateral play. "a few mm is fine, but if you are at 1/2" then there are problems." is what I was told.

Anyone else running this guard? Can you confirm if you have this play (with bike on stand and rear wheel off the ground)? Again It is lateral play, NOT vertical play. The swingarm is rock solid.