This makes no sense.
-No fuel to carb observed with disconnected line from carb inlet (when bumping starter)
-No fuel at fuel pump inlet (from gas tank, straight line, no filter) when I disconnected the fuel line. As in, fuel did not come out at all; the way you would expect it to do after running for 20 minutes within the hour. Re-verified by sound that fuel was still in the tank.
You are correct, no filter is necessary and no gauge is necessary at this time.