Sorry for the late response ...
Hang in there! The learning curve is steep but it doesn't last too long.
Yes, I am making my own profiles. Partly because I want to use papers that aren't in Paul R's archive, and partly because I didn't know what I was doing initially and tried using Paul's profiles incorrectly. Anyway, I've got it down to a predictable 3-day workflow (because the prints have to dry, and I don't have a hair dryer) to get a paper profiled.
5 inks is exactly what you think it is: all of the inks except for the lightest dilution because that dilution is very yellow. The 5-ink print is significantly more neutral than the 6-ink print, though still warm compared to the black-only (1 ink) print. The 6th slot is going to be the cooling toner as Paul R's written about in his variable tone instructions. I find that I don't lose much (if any) tonal smoothness with 5 inks compared to 6. I do see a smoothness difference at US-letter size between BO and 5-inks though.
I've profiled the following papers so far:
Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte: it's a good-looking paper that feels kind of cheap, and is actually pretty cheap so it's great for learning on. I use the slightly rougher side because it looks whiter to me (and measures a bit whiter too). This paper is fairly neutral in tone, perhaps slightly yellow.
Epson Hot Press Natural: a great-feeling and -looking paper, with a very warm tone. It makes the warm inks not look as warm. Very deep Dmax, and it's probably my default choice for a warm paper.
Canson Edition Etching: I used to think this was a warm paper until I saw the Hot Press Natural! Great feeling paper, pronounced texture, and I'd liked it when I printed B&W on my Canon Pro-10 with its color inks, but the texture gets in the way of fine detail in the picture.
Canson Rag Photographique 210gms: feels great, and looks great. Very sharp due to very smooth surface. I used to think this was a very cool paper with a very bright white point and therefore unsuitable for the B&W inks, but somehow the print doesn't look that warm on it. No idea why. Anyway, this is probably going to my default neutral choice. I have some of the 325gms coming to test out also. I like the 210, but I'll have to see how the feel of the 325 is like.
One warning about the 210gms version though: it's the only paper that's consistently shown head strikes or at least ink smudges on both the leading and trailing edges on the 1430. I've flattened my paper as much as I could before I printed on them, and that's helped, but occasional smudges still show up. I think this may be due to the floppiness of the 210, which is floppiest paper I've tested on this printer so far. There was no problem with it on the Canon (though the Canon would occasionally smudge Canson's Platine).
Ilford Gold Cotton Smooth: I had some lying around, and tried it out. No good on the 1430. The feel and image are good, but the paper may be too thick for the 1430's handlers. It will either not grab the paper from the feed without a little push from me, or it will grab it and the rollers will put indentations on the leading edge. Not recommended on the 1430, I think. I do have the thick media setting turned on in the printer utility. Hopefully QTR doesn't affect that.
I just started a test on Epson's Hot Press Bright to see how that compares to the the Canson Rag Photo. HPB has OBAs while the Canson does not, so if that matters then it may not be the right paper for you.
I have some Canon Arches Vellin too in the pipeline, but if I stopped now with just Canson Rag Photo and Epson HPN, I'd be very happy.
--Andre