That's the correct way to have it....... And like you said, it worked fine.

With the lifters in the pic, even if they have a hole from the slot that feeds the pushrods..... How does the oil get into the slot?
The smooth part of the lifter body just blocks off the hole in the bushing.

The way those lifters are set up, they don't do a good job of oiling the roller either..... For the same reason. No way to get the pressurized oil into the slot.

Unless, as I stated previously...... I'm missing something.

I'd send 'em back......they're not what you wanted..... And it's not like they're cheap either.

Edit: I just blew the pic up and finally saw the roller oiling holes.
Looks like that's just splash oiling to me.
I'm no engineer, but that seems like a fairly highly stressed area of the lifter body to drill an extra hole into........ Right above the axle.