Digital BW, The Print

In my micro experience...

I have taken to scanning in 16 bit, it gives a better historgram.
Then saving that file (tossed once a finished print achieved) and 
immediately converting to 8 bit - get the same histogram.  Then work 
the file willy nilly till I get the image I want.

If the image is hard to print, only then do I go back and look at the 
histogram...if it looks really gapped with spikes to I make a copy 
and try to do my edits more efficiently.  Been relatively pleased 
lately.

FWIW,

Cleavis