Aug wrote --

>  I've been lucky with printers - I've been a fan of multi-function
>  inkjets for some time; I don't print a lot, but I scan a lot of
>  documents to PDF and Canon MFP inkjets do nicely.

  I do more scanning than printing as well. 
  My first scanner, back around 1995 or so, was dreadful.  Forget what it
was.  A stand alone scanner.
  When I replaced my dot matrix (ribbons were getting scarcer and scarcer)
was a Lexmark 3 in 1.  
   It was ok as it went, but I always had trouble getting the ink cartridge
to fit.  It was some odd twist, turn, push down deal.  
  My second 3 in 1 was another Lexmark and the same problem.
  Finally got a HP and it slips in the first time and stays there.

>  My previous printer's ink was expensive - $50 or so for a kit with
>  color, B&W and 25 sheets of 4x6 photo paper

  I very seldom use the coloured ink.  Most of what I print are b/w
documents.  
  I did try sending Christmas "cards" one year where I printed off a
painting from the net.  That really used up the colour and also took almost as
long to dry as the original oil painting.  :)
  
> the driver would complain about not being able to detect ink levels.

  I just go by the darkness of the ink.  
  When it starts fading out I know its time for a refill.

>  Did some poking around and noticed that a highlighter had fallen into
>  the feed.

  It usually is something simple.
  I had problems one time and poking around found a piece of hard candy had
fallen into the feed.  How in the world that got in there I have no idea. 
Fished it out and fine after that.

>  Keeping with the name of the echo, I still miss my HP Deskjet 500.

  I think I had one of those.  Maybe the one that fell on the floor.

>  Back then, HPs were built like tanks and were easy to work on.

   They are hardy little things.
   Joe