Digital BW, The Print

I recently started printing using a C86, Mis EZ inks and Paul's 
settings. So far, my prints on PremierArt Hot Press using Pauls settings 
come out darker than my calibrated monitor. (I've also got Kirkland 
paper on the way.)  Both the high print values (lighter values) and the 
low print values (darker values) print too dark. This is especially 
noticiable in the lower print values which lose a tremendous amount of 
detail compared to the screen image.  I've tried the Zuber Photographic 
method of setting a black and white adjustment curve, but this didn't 
have much effect. Could I use my MacBeth reflection densitometer to make 
a Photoshop CS curve that would get me better output? Perhaps by 
printing a step wedge, taking readings, and making a custom curve? I've 
looked for a description of a good method on the web, but I've come up 
short. Any suggestions?

On another front, I'm having some problems with what traditional 
photographers call 'pepper fogging', something that Sterling Lith paper 
did all too often when using Tim Rudman's Lith printing method. 
Basically, once one got the dilute lith developer to the near exhaustion 
stage, usually the stage that would give the most interesting results, 
all of a sudden small black specks would appear on the print.  Well, I 
get these specks on my inkjet prints, and they're really annoying. With 
silver paper, I'd use tincture of iodine on a sharpened toothpick to 
bleach the spots, re-fix, wash, dry, and spot to get rid of the specks. 
Are these black pin pricks of ink common to ink in otherwise light 
smooth toned areas unavoidable with inkjet printing? Can anything be 
done to prints that have them? For example, can they be knifed out?

Thanks,
Peter