Connor
Yes the steel tabs move with the piston and only attached to the bennett tab, no contact with the hull. The steel is sistered to the aluminum each with 4 bolts.
As far as I know, Gramps had the plates made while he was chartering the boat in the mid to late 70's on Lake Ontario. He replaced the original joy stick in the 80's with the double rocker still on now and I had the original actuators replaced a few years ago. Other than being upset that they cut holes in my inner transom when installing the actuators

, no problems. Structurally, the steel has held up quite well. I removed the plates about 8 or so years ago and sandblasted them. I had to weld in a small patch on one that I blasted through and I coal tarred them. They'll last a few years yet but I think I might try making them out of aluminum next time.
I'm hoping the boat is out of the water by now and I'm planning to hit the cottage this weekend to pull the docks. My good camera crapped out but I'll try to get some close ups with the blackberry and get them up before she goes to hibernate for the winter.
Brandon