Digital BW, The Print

This is probably my ignorance so I'll ask the question anyway!

I am having problems with the NCA and original curves for the UT 
inkson my 1270 because in some cases the shadows or mid-tones are 
blocked out depending on which curve I use.

My monitor is only calibrated using Adobe gamma but this seems to be 
a red herring anyway for mono work as the image is converted to RGB 
98 before the curve is applied so why not work in Adobe 98 in the 
first instance.

What I would like to know is what is the difference in getting a 
printer/paper profile done and getting/creating a custom curve?  I am 
not that interested in warm/cool B&W prints, just a bog standard 
neutral B&W print, the sort of thing I could get out of my BO prints 
but without the grain.

Once that question is answered how do you go about creating a 
paper/ink profile for UT and HWM as most profiling services use a 
wacky colour chart and colour analyser?  Or is the easiest way to 
create a custom dot gain using a wedge chart and work backwards from 
the print?

Sorry for the potential numpty questions but I hope some can help

Thanks

Gareth