My experience is that the bonding agent holding the friction material to the metal shoe fails long before the friction material wears out. IMO after 20'ish years the adhesive strength becomes a roll of the dice.

The star wheel can seize and be the reason it won't move. If the car is a clean keeper, yes replace the shoes and springs.

Much of the spring hardware access when replacing the shoes is done through the lug bolt holes in the flange.

Loosen the cable, adjust both wheels and then adjust, clean and lube the cable.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer