1. There is no wear on shims. Hence some sources will swap them for you. Usually they want to make some money on you so will only sell them. They are a $2 shim but most will charge five or six bucks for them. Or you can get an assortment/kit, but personally I think they're a waste of $$ unless you have a LOT of bikes.
2. It is common for the exhaust side to get loose, the intake to get tight - it's the way things tend to wear over time. That said, normally there is no movement for many thousands of miles - likely half the life the motor. It has been said that once shim-bucket valve train starts needing adjustment it's likely it needs a complete rebuild. Have not seen this so much on the husky with SS valves, but for sure on Ti type valve trains like KTM and some of the racing big-4 brands.
3. To remove the clip just hook it with a piece of stiff wire or a tool with a hook and pull it up - it's a spring clip.
4. It is likely all the shims are the same - whatever it needed is how it was setup when built. Also likely they've only been checked once.
5. The one loose valve will have been the one you hear ticking when hot - likely that will go away.
6. The whole valve train loosens up some when hot - just the way it was designed. Generally you'll get some ticking from everything when hot. It's music to the ears.

7. check that airbox for secure breather tube - if you start getting fine dirt through there you'll toast the motor. 8
8. The oem timing chain tensioner pumps up on oil pressure so it will tighten up when running. There is a detent or spring so it cannot slack off too much when shut down. That's the play you're seeing. I believe there is a manual adjuster available but have not heard of cam chain tensioner problems with this motor. The early RCF KTM motors were notorious for crappy tensioner and plenty of aftermarket ones that worked better including a manual option.
9. Get a pickup magnet tool to remove the shims - super easy to pop them out with said tool.
10. IIRC bent feelers work better for maneuvering in there. And yes, use go/no-go to judge clearance.Better loose than tight. Loose is just noisy - tight will burn seats, valves and can be hard starting or it won't start at all.