Yes that what it is 4 spacers and I hope to start taking some out. I can get low enough now, but my neck gives me a little problem.
IMO the bike shop guy was in error. The spacers do put a bit more stress on the upper bearings, and if it was the upper cup that was pitted, then the spacers may indeed be a problem.
But I have never in my life seen upper bearings that were damaged, except through lousy installation, gross neglect and/or extreme age, and in almost all of
those circumstances, the lower bearings were in much worse condition than the upper. The lower bearings are the ones that are getting pounded, and again in my experience, they are always the ones to fail first.
IMO, pitting at 1500 miles almost certainly indicates damage from poor installation. Some 17 year old overtightened your headset when he put it in; I'd put money on it.