In my opinion you and your girl are completely normal. I can relate to your girl from what you've written, and I have spoken with many other women who enjoy the same kind of practical expression of authority in the relationship, which furthermore can be translated to speak of the love between the two of you.
I don't know if it will help you understand, but I'll try to illustrate through a recent event:
Things have been a little bit rocky at home for a while. We've been under a lot of pressure and not had a lot of rest. Christmas finally arrived and gave room for more rest. I ended up going to bed late several evenings in a row though, working on a dress I wanted to finish before an event I had to attend to. The last night before I was leaving I spent before the sewing machine, and it got late. I had promised to wake him as I got to bed seeing as I would be gone several days. I woke him gently, and hoped he would not check the time, but he always does from habit. He asked me in disbelief if I only just got into bed at 5am, and I told him that I did. (it's not the first time I have, but we've been talking about needing to be more sensible etc). I could hear he wasn't very pleased and I felt ashamed that I had gotten carried away like that. Yet here's what surprised me. We've not incorporated spanking as a punishment years actually, only for pleasure, because I've been worried about whether or not I was a freak. We've been on and off with spanking altogether because of the same reason, and I am the one who brought him into the idea of it all in the first place. That evening though, the moment I affirmed that I had been up until 5am, he bared me and told me that it is beyond "a little late" as I had worded it ("I know, it's a little late"), and spanked me very hard, very long.
Although I was surprised by the spanking, it was a great help and something I needed. I realized, while lying there, that not only had I been inconsiderate that evening, but the other evenings as well. Not only to him, but to me and the kids. I am not the best functioning when I am tired in the morning. He let me know clearly that we are too important for him to allow me to create friction because I don't get the sleep and rest I need. He also let me know I'd get the belt if I stay up too late again, and reined in the time frame. That spoke love to me. It's practical and hands on and exactly what I need. While being on the receiving end, I also realized that a lot of the friction we've had earlier is because of a power struggle between the two of us that I don't really want to have. I told him straight away from the beginning that I want him to be in charge, head of the household, the more traditional way. And he wants the same. During the spanking I realized that I have not been honoring that, and I have not submitted the way I'd like to. After the spanking took place, there is no power struggle, we're both getting our rest, and the harmony is restored to our relationship in a way it hasn't been for a long time.
I hope maybe this can be of help somehow. After years of struggles with my own wants and needs, I have finally come to peace with the fact that sometimes I just need a good spanking, and it makes me feel even more loved and reassures me of his authority and position in our relationship. He's not allowing bad habits to get in our way. Maybe your girl is the same way.. Good luck to you both!
*edit: I forgot to reply to your first post. But I enjoy all the different types of spankings for different reasons. Shock and awe can be fun, or it can really drive a point home. To me I'd have to say that the state of mind I'm in is what would make me cry or not, not necessarily how hard it is (I have a high tolerance as well). If I know that I have let my husband down though, or hurt him in some way, even just a calm telling off, with or without a slap on the rear, would make me cry. If nothing is said and or if it is for fun, I probably won't cry no matter how hard or long the spanking would be.