If I cast a spell from a staff, and I happen to have the Spell Perfection feat for said spell, does it gain the benefits of the feat (such as the doubled Spell Focus bonus and being able to apply a free metamgic feat)?
Yes and no. You do use your feats to determine the save DC of a spell cast from a wand, so Spell Perfection should apply to that. However, you can not add a metamagic spell onto a spell cast from an item (unless the item was created with that feat in the first place.)
From the description of metamagic feats:
The modifications made by these feats only apply to spells cast directly by the feat user. A spellcaster can't use a metamagic feat to alter a spell being cast from a wand, scroll, or other device.
Your quote is itself evidence that this could possibly work with metamagic.
Your quote assumes that you are trying to apply metamagic the old fashioned way, which WOULDN'T work. However, the only thing you need to get Spell Perfection to work is to cast the spell. You can apply a free metamagic feat ANY time you cast the spell.
Your quote literally confirms that a spell from a wand or staff is, in fact, "cast." Ergo, one could argue that you get the FULL benefit of Spell Perfection, not just the doubled static bonuses.
I'm not yet settled that this is the "correct" interpretation, only that it is a possibility.
Really? Because that quote says you have to directly cast the spell to apply a metamagic feat to it. You don't directly cast a spell from a staff. You activate the staff, and the staff casts the spell. IF you have to use an item to cast a spell, then you are not directly casting it.
Oh wow. Somehow I missed the first part of the quote. Sorry. I've been in so many arguments/debates these last two days I guess I've just become used to being contradictory.
Anyways, thanks for the clarification.