Thought I should update this thread, I recently replaced the plugs and injectors (@88.4k miles).
But before I put in the new injectors I tested for the hesitation, it pretty much disappeared after replacing just the plugs.
And since then I have driven it a bit too, I'd say at the least the hesitation is 95% gone, there's just maybe the occasional very slight hint of it left.
PS. Old plugs had done 27k miles.
Back of inlet valves were literally shiny clean
