Digital BW, The Print

I've been a long time user of Piezography inks -- seven years this
month to be exact.

I've had my Epson 7000 loaded with Piezography inks for about five
years. Currently, I'm finishing up some older QUAD/ICC ink. I've
always been happy with the output, until recently. Most of the time
I've printed on Hahn. Wm Turner with quad inks with the StudioPrint
RIP. I was doing a large print recently where there was an expanse of
dark brooding sky/clouds. I was unhappy with the print, with flat
blacks and lost detail in the shadows of the sky (something
Piezography excelled in). So, I sent it to my 4000 with UC inks and
Colorburst RIP and Crane Silver Rag. Much better dynamic range
(granted, glossy versus matte) and detail, without blocking up or ink
pooling.

So now I'm faced with a quandary: refill my 7000 with K6 inks, or jump
ship to something like the Canon iPF6100. Between new ink cart costs
and flushing carts, we're talking about $600+ that could be put toward
a new printer (though my wife would kill me -- we already have four
printers in the office between various inkjet and laser).

Piezography is/was killer technology for achieving pure B&W. Now it
seems there are some real alternate choices out there and some
fabulous papers (all the various Silver Rag-like choices).

Has anyone been down this road and care to share? Thanks.