wrong.  look at the contrast between the wording of these three cleric powers.

Healing Word
effect: the target can spend a healing surge and gain an additional 1d6 hit points

Beacon of Hope
effect: you and all your allies in the burst regain five hit points...

Cure Light Wounds
effect: the target regains hit points as if it had spent a healing surge

If the power says the target can spend a healing surge or spends a healing surge, then a healing surge is spent.  But a cleric can learn many powers that heal without spending healing surges.  Granting an ally the opportunity to spend a healing surge in combat without spending an action is extremely beneficial.  Being able to do it twice per encounter is uber.  Adding 1d6 + wisdom modifier to the amount healed is ninja.

It will be a long time before the majority of your healing powers do not require the expenditure of a healing surge, and then only if you choose those powers rather than a more damage-oriented power or tactical power or a power with some other benefit.  Healing Word will always be an excellent healing option for a cleric because it grows in power as your allies grow in power.  Every single cleric power that heals without spending a healing surge is a once-per-day power.  Your "normal" heal ability will always be Healing Word even if you pick every powerful healing option available at every level that one becomes available.