Appreciate some input on spark plug reading

Let me see if I follow your logic here…

You think the area around the plug is lean. So lean it won’t color the plug.
If you understood the basics of combustion and chemistry you would understand that any AFR below 14.7 would leave free carbons to find they're way onto the spark plug during combustion due to the heat and pressure generated at ignition time.

I’m on the phone with the best people in the country and they agree with me.
Considering Bruce Robertson and Larry Widmer could run engines into the 20+ to 1 compression and other guys like them pushing the boundaries in this area aren't answering you phone calls.