I'll second the "pulling from sump" option, because it would allow spinning the motor in either direction.
The oil in the sump isn't dirty, like an IC engine's sump. At the same time adding a magnetic, inline filter would probably be wise. I added one to my Insight's CVT oil system, just because it's a heck of a lot easier to change that filter than the OE ones. Of course it makes sense to add a really overkill oil cooler as well. Again, for the value they provide, coolers are pretty cheap.
I think the Triumph's use of the engine and frame in the oil system is really cool.
The MGR's motor shaft doesn't really have a step machined into it. However, there's a spline on the gearbox side of the motor shaft that interfaces with the first stage of the drive system's gears. This set of gears is also hollow, so in a sense, there is a step. The shaft inner diameter is smaller on the gearbox side, larger on the motor side.
E*clipse