I just bought a 2 1/4 x 2/3/4 Pacemaker Speed Graphic with a Graflok back and a 101/4.7 Ektar in a Supermatic shutter. The rangefinder needs work, but otherwise I'm quite pleased with it.

But then I tried to use a cable release and discovered there was no place to screw it in. Some detective work revealed that the cable release socket had been closed with a screw (and not a random screw -- one designed for this purpose). This seemed rather odd, but I took the screw out.

Then tonight I figured out why they put the screw in: it's impossible to use a cable release with this camera and lens combination, because the trip mechanism for the body release obstructs any access to the cable release socket. And it came that way from the factory, because there's a depression in the lens board designed to accept a pin on the back of the shutter, and if you don't put the lens on the lens board that way, the body release won't work.

This seems like a totally daft way to design a camera -- you have to give up ever using a cable release if you want to have a body release?? Are all Pacemakers with the Ektar lens this way? I guess I could put the lens on the camera upside-down when I want to use a cable release, but that seems rather stupid also. Is there a workaround to the problem that I'm not noticing?

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But then I tried to use a cable release and discovered there was no place to screw it in. Some detective work revealed that the cable release socket had been closed with a screw (and not a random screw -- one designed for this purpose)

I always thought the screw was to prevent debris getting into the shutter when a cable release was not in use.

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Then tonight I figured out why they put the screw in: it's impossible to use a cable release with this camera and lens combination, because the trip mechanism for the body release obstructs any access to the cable release socket.

They make L adapters for cable release, perhaps one will allow a cable release to be used without side release interference. Several on ebay at price gouger prices. Some vintage cable releases have a short screw tip that may fit if you can find one.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/109446-REG/Kaiser_206148_Cable_Release_Adapter_L.html?sts=pi

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And it came that way from the factory, because there's a depression in the lens board designed to accept a pin on the back of the shutter, and if you don't put the lens on the lens board that way, the body release won't work.

That pin is usually a screw that can be removed. The pin ensures that the shutter release is clocked at the 9 o'clock position. All shutters used them at one point in time.

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This seems like a totally daft way to design a camera -- you have to give up ever using a cable release if you want to have a body release??

Its an either or condition. Welcome to the oddities of press cameras.