Spitting in a Harder Steenbeck Evolution .2mm tip

Had this Evo for five six years. I've gone through a few needles and nozzles (that's making my Iwata Eclipse look really good). The brush is as clean as I can make it - I've done it hundreds of times and think I know what's up. I have a nozzle tip tool that I use as well as a thin dental paper point that fits through the tip nicely, so it's clean. Ditto with the area behind where the needle enters the cup.

It's spitting a little - not seriously. You really hear it more than see it (no bubbles in cup for instance), but it's making very fine detail work very hard. I'm trying "black basing" so that's what I really need. The needle is slightly bent and I have a new one inbound. However, I was brushing very close to the model at very low psi last night with Golden High Flow (the stuff is almost immune to tip drying) but it just wasn't doing the job. I cleaned it, and the needle was absolutely covered with paint. I did the same task with the Eclipse for much longer - close to an hour I'd guess -  and there was only a small amount of paint where'd you expect it - the part of the needle that goes through and past the cup. (I withdraw needles by pushing them through the tip: I put them in by installing it from the rear.)

I suppose this could be a worn nozzle. I can't see anything wrong, but it wouldn't take much. But the accumulation of paint on the needle has me a little worried. Any possibility that I should be thinking of replacing the o-rings? (I think I may even have a collection of them. HS does sell them.)

Advice appreciated.
Eric