chevrolet calls it a harmonic balancer on page 6-29 of the 63 shop manual so go correct them

I'm not interested in what Chevrolet says it is, and especially so since they're wrong.
Is the crankshaft balanced when it's installed, and not if it isn't? If it's a SBC 400, or 454, it's true, but not an L6. It's a term of convenience, so that someone other than an engineer will recognize it in popular literature.

does it magicly keep you from touching the thrust bearing when you drive it on with it

I don't think you have a clear picture of how it works.