Definitely go with the magneto, you'll never have to take the starter clutch and flywheel off again, just to check the points gap or condenser.
I managed to get a spark by setting the air gap correctly. Used a spare points coil from another Briggs. It must have a short somewhere because I had to disconnect the wire running from behind the flywheel to a tab on the carb.
It would only spark with that wire removed.
