LaserWriter 8500 Print quality

By "brand new OEM," are you referring to an Apple retail-boxed toner cartridge? If you found one, I would have to assume that it's new "old stock." The problem with toner cartridges (that include the drum) is that they do have a shelf life, even when they remain sealed in the bag. A laser repair shop owner once told me that the shelf life is about a year, for expected optimal performance. This doesn't mean that a new cartridge can't or won't function normally after sitting in inventory for one or two years. It only increases the possibility of having printing anomalies. If the cartridge is 10+ years-old, it's a gamble. The photosensitive surface of the drum deteriorates while in long-term storage, which can cause a number of printing defects. In your case, the 8500 has a print density control dial located inside the printer, to the left. As toner cartridges age, many users will increase the density setting by rotating the dial clockwise, to compensate for pale printing. When you install a new toner cartridge, the density control should be turned back (counterclockwise), if you're getting too much toner being applied to the page resulting in a gray-tinted page.

The article 24286 basically only contained the information already known to you. That is, to reduce the print density via the dial, as mentioned above by Jeff, or through the Printer Utility.