Digital BW, The Print

I'm ready to get started printing my black & white negatives using 
a Epson 1280 printer, and the Ultatone inksets developed by 
Paul Roark. My question is in regards to the imaging software. 
I'm going to be using an e-mac, scanning with a Dimage 5400, 
and am wondering about how well Elements 3.0 will work with 
this set-up? Elements 3.0 doesn't allow for curve adjustments, is 
this going to be a significant problem if I want to develop high 
quality prints? Must I purchase Photoshop CS?

Second, Paul Roark mentions that with "image editors 
Photoshop and Picture Window more control is possible, 
including print tones that range form dark sepia to very cold, by 
using image adjustment curves. Photoshop Elements can also 
be used to gain this expanded control.  For that program the 
adjustment curves need to be put onto small files with layers that 
can then be dragged to the image file." Just how difficult is it to 
do this with Elements 3.0?

Thank you very much for your advise!
Gonzalo