Yeah, you'll feel the differance between the spring resistance and starting to move the linkage (assuming you have linkage that is).
you are correct about the throwout bearing technically (and so is the FSM), but in the early stages, it seems to be opposite - or maybe it's the clutch? not sure... Basically whenever I replace clutch I replace it all in there, and I replace it when I'm dead stopped engine running and I can hear it in there chattering and humming when the clutch is out. When I push the clutch it, it releases the clutch disc from the flywheel, and everything else is under pressure, so it quiets. But clutch out again and noise comes back - again stationary not in gear just working the clutch when engine running.
We're saying check the free play because if it somehow did tighten (normally wear would cause it to loosen (more freeplay) and cause you not to be able to fully engage clutch, but strange things can happen) then your throwout bearing would be riding on the clutch housing and cause noises... If you don't have enough freeplay, it's almost worse than too much as too much you can't move, forcing you to fix it, too little however and you just burn it all up while you're still able to drive.
However, sometimes the inner channel for the clutch fork starts to wear on the throwout bearing letting it be too loose which also might give you the symptoms that's opposite of the FSM notes for failed throwout bearing...
Normally now honestly, I've replaced my clutches because I've melted them wheeling, now with lower gearing I haven't had that issue for a while at least...
All that mumbo jumbo circle talk to the side, I'd check the free play good, then move on to pulling the trans and inspecting the clutch, flywheel, bearings etc... Or possible try to get a better confirmation before, as I hate dropping my tranny these days! lol