It has been my understanding that the small ball bearing is only a 'catch bearing '. The hydro dynamic concept used by Michael slightly lifts the platter onto a thin film of oil, and off of the balls contact surface. It ( the ball) comes into play when the platter is at rest.
Not really; the inverted pin marketed in 1991/1992 allows for uniform lubrication across the entire pin/sleeve/ball area and then back down through a small hole near the ball's support point; the oil is lifted through a spiral milling in the metal and when the platter rotates and it carries the oil uphill.
There is nothing that can lift the platter by thousandths of a millimeter as it is very heavy (in this case, magnets would be needed to lift it) but it is simply an optimal and more efficient system for lubricating all the moving metal parts.
