QTR-Quadtone RIP

I'm lusting heavily to work with QTR and the Epson 1400/Piezography
inkset combo. However - it appears one REALLY needs to have a decent
spectro or densitometer to get into this, and most seem quite pricey.

It seems the linearization process is somewhat unique to BW work, and
the need to do this preclude just using mfr's print profiles.

While he Xrite Eye-one ($800?) seems to be the "real deal", what other
alternatives are there? I've read about using a scanner, but that
seems more like a 'training-wheels' approach, and ultimately one will
need a real spectro. Or so it seems.