With two, or more, different ev levels in the same scene, sometimes a very wide range of ev levels, the sensors in the cameras are not able to record it all accurately. You just can't have everything.
If you spot meter on a lighter background for instance, it will be correctly exposed, but the darker foreground will be under exposed. And vice versa.
A better 'way around' this would be to go ahead and meter for the background, then add whatever amount of fill flash is needed to lite the foreground properly. IMHO.
Sorry if I am overstepping here but I am a huge fan of using strobes.
Photography is all about light. I want as much control as I can get!