Thank you everyone for all these comments and tips. My frame was likely built for campy, when I posted the pictures of the frame here, repachage pointed out that the dropouts certainly were. I have campagnolo hubs, brakes, derailleurs, shifters, and seat post, the cranks, headset, and bottom bracket are all stronglight.

It's a daily rider, gets locked up outside frequently in Berlin (never overnight) and there is lots of curb hopping, cobbles, and dirt/gravel paths I encounter. The shop I most recently used is all italian so of course they want to push campy stuff...Nice guys tho. it does look if I ever upgrade the P3 I would want a steel headset for durability, sacrificing a little weight.

Now at least I understand how the P3 works, and am comfortable loosening and tightening it. Along with a washer I may invest in a slightly larger pair of channel locks, or a mini plumbing style "monkey wrench" for loosening the bottom lock nut. I like the idea of not hacking off the steerer - keeping it original, even if as you can see I've already gone partial frankenstein with newer Japanese pedals, spanish handlebars, dia compe brake levers, and brooks seat.