Digital BW, The Print

I just installed a new 2200 (WIN 2K, P-S 7) and was interested to find
that the current driver (ver. 5.4) is changed and (to my eye) much
improved. Honest profiles are included for installation. Color managed
workflow produces reasonably neutral B&W prints with a long tonal
scale and little metamerism(Enhanced Matte with Mk). Virtually
identical prints are obtained if the profile is applied in P-S or in
the Epson driver. These prints are quite similar (in tone and with
respect to "metamerism" to those made with black ink only). (Prints
made with "Color Control" > "standard" or "PhotoEnhanced" >
"Monochrome" are a different matter and have a distinct, non-linear
cyan cast most pronounced in the highlights, but who cares. 
Am I just lucky or has Epson really made a considerable improvement in
the driver and given us decent black and white at least in an ICM
workflow?
Bob Hesse