I agree with Graham that all possible backlash should be taken out of the mechanics of the machine, and with modern equipment zero backlash is nearly achievable.
There must always, however, in any mechanical system, be some space between the "bits" otherwise the whole thing would seize up although they can be so small as to be ignored.
As far as the two suggestions go, I agree with Brett - what can possibly have given rise to the idea backlash can be spread over the length of travel of the table. Backlash is not about movement. It is about the non - movement of the various parts as they settle in to begin to pull the pther way. This is why surely, in Mach 3, there is a quite distinctive difference in sound at the beginning of a move, as the backlash is applied - and you should certainly NOT see any movement in the table while this is happening.