I have been reading up on how to change the timing belt on my 98 16V tracker, I see were there was a update to a new 17mm crank bolt .....(The crank big bolt  is now (96- retroactive) spec'd at  94 ft/lbs,).    Sooo  would my 98 suffer from this crank key problem, & is it something that I need to check when I do the belt or just make sure it's at 94ft/lbs. ?

For peace of mind, you could pull the cog and check the keyway.
But you could also check the bolt torque before you take the bolt out.  If it is at 94ft.lbs, or more, then there is likely no problem.

Well changed the timing belt last weekend, started to remove the fan & shroud for more room, then looked at how tight of a fit it still was & said screw this.... I'm replacing the water pump at the same time so out with the radiator, I also checked the A/C... no freon, no problem, so took the grill, top core support, radiator, & evaporator coils out.  I looked but couldn't find the kitchen sink... pulled up a chair, sat down... & said now this is the way to do this thing.  Checked the crank bolt for 94lbs...check, crank gear matched up with the case mark...check, no leaky seal...check, cam pulley lined up with the valve cover mark...check, so I just replaced the water pump, put in the new belt with roller put it all back together & walla....works great.
  I think it was changed sometime down the road, as it had a Delco belt in it, don't think it came that way from the factory, the job is really not that hard to do.

Nope, not hard at all to do.  I can usually swap a water pump in less than an hour....and that is taking my time.