Digital BW, The Print

I need to replace my elderly hp 7960 which I have been very happy with
for black and white printing.  I know people here are generaly anti hp
and pro Epson.  Before the hp I was using an ealier epson model with
ez inks. Results with that set up were ok.  I know have an epson r200
which I could try ez inks in again.  I was puting the thing through
it's paces with the stock inks and the results were pretty bad.  If I
go through the trouble to get the mis inks will I see an improvement?
 The other obvious choice is to go with the media street products and
the quadtone rip.  I also wonder if I should get a better printer. 
Would love to get a new epson 2400 but not sure if the budjet will
support that.  I'm just not sure what to do.  I know that I really
miss printing on a true matte  paper as the hp did not really support
this choice.  Please help.