Digital BW, The Print

For a whole lot of reasons that don't matter here, I am being forced into digital output either as digital negs or prints. I'm using you folks as a sounding board of what I have, what I'm getting, and what my  specific goals are.
I have a real good Epson 2200, I have cs3, I ordered UT7 today and empty cartridges.
I'm used to silver based and carbon prints. What I want to try is BO prints and gray scale, to see if I can be happy with them.
I don't have a paper yet, still undecided on which one.
I have two questions. 
I know monitor calibration is a must with color, is it just as crucial with Black and White. I have looked at the Spyder monitor stuff, but, I just don't know, opinions please.
I'll be working from scanned 4x5 negs that I have silver and carbon prints to compare plus I'll use images from a digital camera.
Am I missing something that I need and if so what.
Dennis