Digital BW, The Print

I will be getting my 4000 soon and want to try the Gray Balancer 
before I spend $895 for Imageprint. I downloaded the English 
language software from Epson's Russian site (linked from Luminous 
Landscape) and read the comments there and on Photo-I as well as the 
many threads here.  Has anyone had success with the Kodak Grayscale 
card? Or, is the Epson card(s) a must have?  If someone has the 
Epson card(s) and no longer uses them please contact via e-mail.  
Any tips, suggestions are welcome.