Appreciate some input on spark plug reading

Get your book out, look at it close and then show me where all the free carbon is that makes a lean condition look rich??
Where not talking about Lean mixtures looking Rich we're talking about Rich mixtures having excess Carbon to Air ratios which means there's not enough carbon to bond to the lack of oxygen. That means there's more Carbon than there is oxygen.

If its not Rich enough around the plug at ignition time IT CANT POSSIBLY TAN A PLUG IRRESPECTIVE of the AFR you give to the Cylinder.