>;... Is it possible that windows users did not experience these Epson / Adobe / Apple changes since CS3, or could these changes be unapparent to windows users?
In Windows 7 I can print from Photoshop CC using "No Color Adjustment" in the Epson driver and inserting an ICC in the Photoshop Print screen. See, for example, page 3 of http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Glossy-Carbon-Variable-Tone.pdf.
Likewise, I can use an ICC with ABW printing from PS CC in Windows 7.
I believe there was a past PS and/or Windows version that did impose constraints, but my current Windows 7, PS CC setup has the settings that I need for making and using ICCs without any work-around.
Paul