Jumping in late to address the OP. I haven't read any other posts yet so forgive me if I am restating someone else's points or ignoring some ongoing debate, etc.
I was in your position around a year and a half ago. Like many others, I found TEC after I became disenfranchised with the RCC. I too felt the need to remain "Catholic" in the same sense that you do. Regular celebration of the Eucharist and Apostolic Succession were important to me, but I wanted a more socially progressive Church. I found what I was looking for in TEC.
I would warn you, though, that RC's will insist until they are blue in the face that TEC's orders are not valid and that Apostolic Succession does not exist within most Anglican Churches. They do not recognize our Eucharist as being valid.
But, if you feel that God is leading you from the RCC to TEC, what RC's insist shouldn't matter IMO.
Historically, I don't see any basis for it. If you are familiar with Church history the Popes and Church leadership have been some of the most corrupt officials in World History. The common, nonreligious man demonstrates a higher sense of morality than what the RCC's leadership has demonstrated in centuries and decades past. The Papacy throughout history has been bought and sold and at times has served as little more than a political office.
Aside from that, I don't find a biblical basis for Papal leadership. I personally deem many modern edicts and policies of the Church logically unsound and far from infalliable.
Kind of. I'm not big on labels. I observe the Catholic sacraments (generally excluding reconciliation). I'm not big on marian devotion or prayers to saints, although it doesn't bother me. I still may pray the rosary on occasion, partially out of habit. I consider myself Episcopalian, but certainly identify more with the "Catholic" label than the "Protestant" one.
I personally view Catholicism as having more to do with the ancient rituals, scriptures and traditions of the faith rather than having to do with any particular organization based in Rome or elsewhere. This is probably why I identify more closely with the Catholic label than the Protestant one. The rituals and traditions that I practice/observe as an Episcopalian are decidedly more Catholic than Protestant IMO.