Digital BW, The Print

Mark, first let me say I love your work and your website.  I am anxious to see 
new pictures beyond cuba.

As an amateur B/W enthusiast, I apologize for my ignorance.  But, I was 
interested in your comments about profiling and linearizing the printer.  With 
out the expensive hardware/software to do this (+expertise), I am not sure 
how easy it would be to have someone do the profiling for you (especially 
when you live in an isolated, small city like I do).  I also wonder whether you 
would have to do a new profile with each ink change, or are the pigments 
consistent enough lot to lot.  (That could get expensive for someone doing this 
as a hobby).  And with your custom profile, I am curious how would you 
compare the output of the b/w 9600 on archival art papers to that of 
piezography. (subjectively and objectively) 

I have been holding off getting into Piezography when I read about all of the 
problems that some users have experienced over the last few years.  I am 
hopeful that the new PiezoTones may improve things, but I am troubled by 
some continued problems noted on this forum and on the piezo3000 forum 
with the newer PT inks.  So, I was hopeful that the 2200 could produce decent 
b/w output.  Yet, I used one in the store the other day to print a file, and was 
certain that it had a purplish color cast under fluoro lights, but looked more 
neutral or even a bit warm in daylight, and with halogen lights.  I didn't try 
printing a sample grayscale.  The dot pattern with a loupe was not too bad to 
me, but I don't have any piezotone samples yet to compare with.  If you were 
not doing this for a living, but wanted to get a printer setup to produce serious 
b/w digital output at home, which way would you go ?  PiezoTones, other 3rd 
party  quad/hextone inks, or ultrachromes.  I am not sure I am really want the 
hassle of microbanding, windex, fantastik, etc etc...   Your comments make me 
think you think this printer may have some potential.

Thanks for your input.

P.S.  I am also anxious to see you post some your vintage-look prints that you 
were going to produce (Sally Mann redux)