I don't play the tune and never would have tried if not for this thread. I've never seen ANY Steely Dan drummer as I've never seen them live. As far as I've heard, many drum tracks were taken apart and reconstituted, and layered, spliced, different sounds flown in, etc., etc., so it's possible some of these tracks were never played as we hear them on the records.
I had to actually try to play it to get a perspective. Just THINKING about it, I visualized myself doing it one way, which didn't feel as good as I thought it might. It seemed it would be more relaxed, but it wasn't.

I don't think that's quite right. I've heard stories of them sometimes building up drum tracks drum by drum. They certainly are very slow working and meticulous to the point of obsession.
They definitely have flown things in. The fills on 'Hey Nineteen' are very overdubbed sounding (snares flamming etc..). The main kit even sounds like a loop (tape loop perhaps), Rick Marotta is the drummer, but Steve Gadd is also credited.
Talking about awesome ghost notes, what about Purdie on 'Babylon Sisters'. Great snare ghosting, then he adds an open hat towards the end of the song, VERY difficult to make sound smooth.