Digital BW, The Print

Can dye sub printers such as kodak 8500 be used for B&W or is it 
better to use an inkjet?
Is there a recommended make/model - from looking at previous posts 
it looks like epson is the preferred supplier. Is this true?

Along with printers how do they compare cost per 10*8, or is it 
better getting prints done at a lab from disk?

Sorry if the questions are dumb, but this is a new venture for me.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Grant