Digital BW, The Print

Paul, she apparently wanted "good" more than "cheap"
(she spoke of 3800, not Ebay) and evidently didn't
want to restrict herself to tiny (letter-sized)
prints. 

I love my digital setup (2200, Nikon V, Vuescan, CS2,
QTR, OEM ..I get perfect neutral prints, refraining
from yellow pigment, using OEM pigments. 

I'm not replacing 2200 with anything new for a while
because I've seen a lot of 2400, black only, 3800,
1800 etc and know that the 2200 readily equals them
visually (quants will disagree, photographers won't).

Visit to Freestylephoto.biz to confirm the relative
prices of VERY high quality silver paper and
typical-high-quality inkjet paper (compare to your
favorite cheapest inkjet vendor as well).

The cost of a darkroom is almost zero if one already
has the equipment (as she may, and many of us do). 

Darkroom equipment costs little more than zero if one
buys used equipment in one's community at today's
prices. 

A good small/medium enlarger with superb lenses is far
cheaper than an inkjet printer that's likely to serve
for more than a year (ie 2400 rather than lesser
Epsons)... and it probably comes with trays,
safelights, tongs, timers, paper, chemicals, and warm
handshakes. 
 
Darkroom construction costs virtually nothing unless
one needs luxurious digs. I've worked from hall
closets, bathrooms, garages...as most of us who
were photographers before inkjet became credible. 

Focusing primarily on "holding down costs" one MAY
save money with inkjet...until/unless the printer
fails when they clog it, ultimately being discarded (1
year with Epson's cheapies?)... assuming they use the
cheapest paper. 

IMO the best reasons for inkjet are the controls. 

Darkrooms deliver their own visual and procedural
advantages, including other controls. 

Some of us print digitally for "cheapness," others do
it for "control." I think digital is a LOT more
expensive than darkroom if one uses the better inkjet
papers. 

Ink savings can sometimes be a way of destroying
printers, as we see so often on this Forum, and
they're usually a way to expend extra time...which is
OK if time isn't money.