In article <50d1g5$538@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, axrd@aol.com says...

>Can I ask a basic question?

Um, yes...... ;-)

>TTL spot metering is useful in attaining a full range of greys, blacks,
>and whites (providing you meter off the correct zone) as opposed the TTL
>Centerweighted or Multi-segmented metering. Correct?

Hmmm, the question seems simple, but it isn't. To answer it most directly,
the type of metering (you forgot incident-type metering) cannot adjust the
relationship between tones, or the total range of tones recorded (changing subject lighting and/or film/print contrast can do those things), but it
can help in selecting the subject tones to be recorded (generally there
is far too wide a range of subject tones for all to be recorded in one exposure). Wide-area reflected-light type and the incident-light type
metering are short-cut ways for establishing film exposure which generally work well (when combined with a little metering knowledge and experience). Multi-segmented metering is designed to short-cut the knowledge-experience part, but since it adds an unknown variable (the "fudges" built into the metering system), it is not as reliable for those with enough metering knowledge and experience to beat its odds using "non-fudging" metering.
If you have the time to make many measurements with a spot meter, and to
evaluate them to arrive at the exposure, spot metering can work well.
If you base the exposure on one or two spot meter readings, you will often
get poor exposures (just WHERE in any subject IS middle grey, anyway?!).
BTW, assuming a meter color response that is the same as your film (VERY
rarely true), a meter can ONLY tell you how to achieve middle grey tone
on the film (assuming correct calibration of film speed, aperture, and
shutter speed). So, the answer to your question (as stated) is "no"
(but, change "zone" to "zones", and the answer is "maybe" [and, add
"and adjust film/print contrast", and the answer is "yes"]).
Hope This Helps