could it be the computer is not allowing the fire? iv heard that on some vehicles that if its fould for so long or something that the computer will not even let it fire? im not sure on anything just really curious about that?
the way the ECM, ignition, and timing reference system is designed on these cars, that's pretty much impossible to happen to only one cylinder. there are no seperate coil drivers to burn out; spark just happens at interval in the ecm.
even a problem with the optical high res pulse so specific to just kill spark (and fuel) to that one cylinder, like a nice glob of crap on that one part of the wheel, would definitely throw a missing high res pulse code.
it has to be in the high voltage side of the opti, there's really no question at this point, and with that serious of a failure, the entire unit should be replaced.
i'd wager when that cap comes off, the contact falls right out of the rotor or something.