Digital BW, The Print

Hi group.  New member here.

I have been struggling for over a year now, trying to get results 
from a 1280 with the MIS variable hex-tone system.  The results are 
still completely unacceptable to me.  I don't know what I could be 
doing wrong.  I convert to RGB, apply the correct curve, use Archival 
Matte paper. The correct settings on the printer driver, etc...

The results are usually very "flat" looking.  Looks like there are 
only about a dozen or so shades of grey, therefore missing most of 
the detail.  I tried about a dozen different sets of cartridges but 
always the same results.  It's not the computer either, because I get 
the same results on two different machines.

When I print a 21 step greyscale, I think I can see at least part of 
the problem.  Between 60% to 80%, everything looks to be about the 
same kind of dark grey - the curve is not very smooth.

On the other hand, when I put color cartridges in, it prints like a 
charm.  Too bad that most of my work is B&W :(

If there is someone here who thinks they are getting really good 
results from this combination of Epson 1280 and MIS VM hex-tone, I'd 
love it if I could send you a file and print-out and you could tell 
me if your results look any better.

Since I have about given up on that whole thing, here is my second 
question:  I'm tempted to dump the 1280 and buy a 2200 and use it 
with the stock cartridges to print my b&w photos.  Any results, good 
or bad?

My most sincere thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read this.

Boris