Digital BW, The Print

Hello Friends,
     Let me start by saying that the information and knowledge 
derived by reading the exchange of ideas in this forum has been a 
tremendous resource.  I probably speak for a number of 'innocent 
eavesdroppers' who subscribe to this group when I thank you for all 
of your sharing of ideas.
     Now, to my point.  There is another printer out here.  
    I am a physician, a father of 2 young children. . . my hobby is 
black and white photography. . . and I live in a small city in 
Oklahoma.  I don't have access to a custom lab without using mail.  
While time in the wet darkroom seems interesting, it does require one 
to build a darkroom and does require alone time in a dark room.  The 
digital darkroom is more accessible and more affordable. 
    As a hobbyist, I marvel at the images on you guys web sites.  If 
and when I do create an image like these, I want a consistent, 
reproducible way of printing this image.  We want people to marvel at 
the image, its content and its tonal quality, but the quality of the 
print is only as good as the image itself.
    If I get to sit down once a week and play and produce in the 
digital darkroom, I am happy.  I don't want to sit down and have to 
fight head clogging, banding and contrast problems.  It takes some of 
the luster away, when you have 3 hours to fight it the whole time.
     I am currently using MIS FS inks with various curves, but have 
recently purchased the piezo driver in hopes that it will simplify my 
process.  For some of us, we would love to concentrate on the images, 
create them, scan them and print them . . .  Is this a pipe dream?
     You guys will be the ones to make or break digital black and 
white printing.  Your advances will hopefully allow it to be enjoyed 
and supported by us non-professionals.
     My fantasy to someday hang a show of incredible images is but a 
fantasy. . . most will likely wind up in a box somewhere.  But, I 
want them to be printed the best way I can and for you guys I look to 
for knowledge.
    I think, though, that to gain support we have to grow in 
numbers.  To grow in numbers we will need a straight-forward 
reproducible means that can be enjoyed by the enthusiast.
                               Scott Michener