I think you may be misunderstanding the way the norms for these work. Is this an accurate representation of your recent digit span exercise?
digits forward:
both items correct at all sets up to six digits
one item correct at seven digits
both items correct at eight digits
one item correct at nine digits.
digits backward:
both correct up to 5 digits
one correct/one incorrect at 6
both correct at 7
one correct/one incorrect at 8
digits sequenced:
both correct up to 7 digits
both incorrect at 8.
If so, there are two important points, without even getting into what your normative score would be had this been a real WAIS:
1. You did not reach a personal ceiling on digits forward or digits backward, and, in fact, ran into the hard ceiling of the test.
2. The average adult reaches a ceiling at 7 digits forward, and fewer than that backward (5) and sequenced (6), which actually means that they get both seven-digit items incorrect. Letter-number-sequencing is similar to DSS, but slightly harder, since there are two layers of sequencing needed (average more like 5).
Takeaways: nothing about this faux WAIS digit span contradicts any of your other data on working memory. I don't think you've presented any data that would suggest concerns with your intrinsic working memory. Worrying about it is likely to be the biggest impediment to performance.
And re-reading is not a waste of time, especially if it's what allows an individual to exercise their significant higher-level thinking skills. It's a strategy, of which we all need many to be our best selves.
