I appreciate all the thoughts and ideas everybody has mentioned, everybody has different levels of experience, some have had weird things happen, others have been lucky to avoid them.
And my mind is boggled by this truck's issues.
Yes, when the cool gas from the passenger side tank hits the pump, it cools things off enough to work again, for a while.
Hence the issue causing the whole dilemna, the fuel coming across the frame crossmember from the driver's side tank is getting heated to the point it turns to vapor, and the only thing that can cause that to happen has to be heat from the exhaust system.
Maybe I should consider plan C or D - weld a bead on the end of the fuel pump pushrod to take up the space the worn cam lobe has produced, but then I lose my ability to pump gas or lock out the flow of gas electrically.
Or, just sell the truck and save the operating expenses, insurance and license plate money.