Yes, but we use the PMS Solid Coated all day long, and they print fine, though your workaround is fine too. We found on occasion, that if you double click on the black
swatch, that there were various percentages in the CMYK boxes, as opposed to 0 in C,M and Y, and 100 in black. That's another way to solve your black not being solid problem. We also create Spot Black that way too, and always print for separation mode, not Composite
Steve