It's one of those topics that starts off sounding simple and finishes with arguments about quantum theory :grin:
To answer your new question, I disagree! Your assumption that the charge between plate 1 and 2 is created and destroyed again as they move apart is reasonable, (as long as there is no conduction between them) but as plate 2 gets close to plate 3 the process is repeated and a new charge is built up. The original charge may be gone but the new one replaces it.
Brian.