i'm not sure about what you mean by "either front side is jacked up the whole top of the strut mount is loose with at least 1/2" play vertically." BUT if you are putting more weight on the a arm to lift the whole front end, then the gap will enlarge because the added weight per side will force flex to the strut mount.

The question really is if the weight of the car is proper distributed, what is the gap set at then?
Where did you take it for inspection?