(Playing Devil's advocate) Your spot meter is fine - but it is calibrated to correctly expose for a "medium" tone (18% grey) - if you were to meter a pure white page and shoot it at the recommended meter reading, and shoot a pitch-black page and shoot it at the recommended meter reading - both shots would come out the same - medium-tone grey.

I have a tendancy to get in - really close - which pretty much eliminates an "average" meter reading, regardless of the metering pattern (sample posted) - so I have to make an adjustment to the exposure (in this case, opened up 1 1/2 stops)

I guess I haven't let go of "the old ways" - I look at this scene and automatically know I need to open up a bit - maybe I could learn to operate an "up to date" system - just seems that a lot of the control (and fun) is being lost.

(PS: not trying to get into a shooting match (no pun intended....well, OK...a little pun intended) - I'm really enjoying this! Thanks for your response!)