Front Caliper Questions

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Working on a 71 C-10 2WD with mostly original parts.
Restoration is an "original" theme, with a few exceptions, such as exhaust, radiator, new tubes, E-brake cables, HEI, internal reg. alt., maybe an elct. choke. You know, the "usual" stuff.

I'm approaching a full tear-down, yet somehow I had avoided ever doing brakes. Didn't even know what a caliper was until recently. Okay yeah, front brakes are easy. And I'm ashamed to have had Les Schwab (yikes) replace the rotors and pads long ago. Anyway, as usual I have some questions please.

1. The caliper piston dust boots are bad. The pads & rotors are sill good. It needs new hoses of course. I'm replacing many of the components on this truck anyhow, under the theme described at top. In your opinion, should I have the original calipers rebuilt? I may be off course, but a "rebuilt" caliper might be limited to new dust boots. For what it's worth, I'm replacing whatever suspension parts require it. Don't know what that is yet.

1A: I see there are complete kits, calipers, rotors, hoses etc.. Any opinions on these kits and which is more better for the cause?

2. Reference the first image of the service manual, concerning bushings (four total) for the caliper bolts, which I didn't have. Were bushings used with the original caliper bolts? Mine didn't have any, maybe they were "lost".

3. Reference the second image with the inner brake pad. What's the clip on the rivet for? I suspect nothing. Perhaps the clip is for a different truck. Not much to it, just curious.

Thank you........