Took the sprocket cover off and guess what was hiding beneath

[darrsi]

With regards to the spotless sprocket area, at work I basically have access to an unlimited supply of solvents (so long as I take it during a nightshift  ). I scraped out all the gunk and then used what we call Exxsol in an old hand pump spray bottle, with a large piece of cardboard under the bike to catch all the run off. I did the whole chain with it then put some lube on to stop things going rusty while the bike is laid up for a few weeks.


Any advice on my Cam chain question above?!?!?

Sounds to me like you already know the answer, but just want reassurance. 
Seems like you're certainly not scared to give things a go, and as you've said you may as well do it while everything is apart if it's annoying you that much.
My chain was changed using the pull through method, probably about 10 years ago now, and it's only ever made that annoying sewing machine noise once since, but it was just in between clicks. It took a few months to go to the next notch, but it clicked as I was warming the bike up outside work one winters evening and I thought there was something wrong with the bike as the sudden silence was deafening.  :lol