Is PS4 Manual Eject Screw supposed to tighten

I ran into this issue about a month after I bought my console. I tried everything, same as you; adjusted that rubber foot, twisted that internal screw, but nothing helped. If memory serves, that screw will not actually tighten, or at least I did not have the patience to see if it would. The solutions you have found online do work for some people, but in my case (and I'm guessing yours), a replacement was needed.

Unfortunately, you're out on a warranty, and a refurb isn't quite worth it in my opinion. The only recommendation I can make is to maybe get a base for the PS4 so that it can sit on its side, taking pressure off the rubber foot and disc-eject sensor. I used this for a long time until my setup needed the PS4 in a different spot for WiFi connectivity.

Otherwise, it may be best to wait for a sale to get a new PS4 for cheaper than a refurbished device.