Hi, Ted.
Some interesting questions. I’m no ignition expert, but yes. ‘Suppressors’ came about in the 60/70s in an attempt to eliminate AF ignition wave transmission. The notion was to reduce the high voltage impulses
If the suppression was purely resistive (no capacitance or inductance) then timing of the spark would remain unaffected. The way I see it introducing a series resistance creates a voltage divider and this would lower the ignition voltage, potentially (pardon the pun) leading to misfire due to a low energy spark. Ie the compression and vapour blows out the candle.