Just to b sure:
Remove the gas inlet tube to carbs, hold a small bowl under and run starter w engine off,
does petrol pulsate freely? If so, pump works properly.

Update to the work in progress: 

Routed fresh vinyl tubing and restored the triangular filters back on the bike.  Looks like the crud I found in the working carb was bits of the old and deteriorating air filter.  Cleaned again and replaced the diaphragms with the new ones from Suzuki.  They fit great and the backfiring out the airbox has stopped, aside from a bit of popping now and then (much milder than before).  I bench synced, but I'm sure there very much still out of sync and will need a proper balancing---hence the popping, I presume.   

Bike still dies when I rip the throttle open from idle.  If I'm slow with the roll of the throttle, I can get it revving up.

Got it idling ok with the choke on, warmed it up and changed the oil.  15w50 ducati brand with a fresh ducati filter. Carelessly messed around with the idle speed and now I'm not sure where I started, but its no longer firing up... bummer.  I'm not sure anyone keeps track of this, but does anybody know where the stock idle speed setting starts? Like how many turns out from all the way in??

Hoping to get my hands on a monometer to properly sync this weekend.  Of course now I've gotta get the dang thing turning on again