I sort-of fixed it. I eliminated the automatic spider crusher and turned it into a fall trap.
Now I'm trying to get some silk touch shears so I can put some cobwebs inside the spawner & prevent them from taking too much fall damage.
I've decided that the changes they've made to the game since I last played survival are WHY I like it so much now. Enchantments, repairs, potions, new items, etc.
SW-5120-1900-6153