Like I said, here are the pictures of what the black shielding near the PASSENGER SIDE muffler looks like. The driver side muffler has nothing in the way.
You can see how I wedged the door stop to stop the contact for now. I have been driving this way for a few days with no melting or anything, so my worries have subsided. Unfortunately, the exhaust pipe blocks access to two of the bolts that hold this shield up, so I'm gonna have to make time to remove the tail end of the exhaust and get it off.
Also, something to note on the exhaust tip alignment - I had remembered the midpipe had some play in the angle I could twist it, and then bolt it tight. I think this will be enough to compensate how the exhaust sits ever so slightly uneven. I'll rejack the car up when I have time and report back on that.