Just a quick update: Found out why the clutch lifter wasn't working.
Fixed it 
What was "up" with the lifter?
Check the spring in the pictures
Yeah, I should also elaborate that wasn't the only problem, just an oversight that was interfering with my adjustment of the lifter arm. HondaMan mentioned previously:
"First, I'll mention about the clutch plates you have: the 2.8mm thick plates are the ones Vesrah (i.e., generic imported plates) is lately selling in place of Honda's 2.71mm thick versions. In that regard, they should work OK."
The 2.8mm plates do result in a stack height that allows for adequate pressure plate separation while the clutch lifter arm is positioned correctly (horizontally aligned to arm and case markings). I had incorrectly assumed that I needed to increase the stack height from 31.6mm (with the 7 Vesrah plates), to something closer to 34.4mm (I assumed 7 factory plates would make this figure). I sought to accomplish this by swapping in three CB750 friction plates of 3.5mm thickness adding up to a stack height of 33.7mm (above wear spec as listed in my Clymer manual.
Now this is more or less the thought process I was approaching the problem with. Shifting problem=clutch problem, clutch problem: arbitrary stack value is lower than spec/ I think it's incorrect because it doesn't match what my books or the Internet says. Therefore the solution must be to come up with a new arbitrary stack height, replace parts until it's closer and then wonder why it still doesn't work..... I realize that I failed to consider the actual mechanics of this component and that's how something obvious like the lever spring having slipped behind the actuator went unnoticed while I was fixated on the friction plates.
The only parts I ended up replacing were the springs (swapped them out for weaker ones) and one friction plate. The clutch seems fine now, when I ride again I'll see how the bike shifts.
It's awesome to have access to the knowledge, knowing how to apply it is what takes real skill.
