inkjet just wants to be friends. sad printer noises
Sorry inkjet, get back to me when you can do this:
In many ways, dot matrix was worse!
But at least I could do a little jig to the dot-matrix rhythms 
My canon printer could probably due this with the right firmware 
Funny to see this post after having struggled for a couple of hours over the holidays with my printer. In many ways, my Epson EcoTank printer is the best I’ve ever had, but it’s still infuriating. Its main problem seems to be the need to clean the heads every couple of months. That might not sound too bad, except that it’s pretty much every time I use it, because I don’t often print things.
If it’s been 3-4 months, I have to do a power clean, and that apparently decreases the life of the heads. So, I don’t know how long this printer will last. And of course, when something critical goes wrong with it, you have one choice: buy a new printer. I’ve never found a situation where repair is the more cost-effective option.
I’ve owned Epson, HP, and Canon printers, and of the three (and I loved my HPs), I’ve found the Canons to be the most trouble-free, even when not printing for a few weeks or months.
I too have owned all three, but it was the Canon that lasted the least amount of time if I remember rightly. I think my last one lasted about 1 year. The HP ones have not been much better. I have had most success with Epson, but I don’t think that means anything. I think it’s luck of the draw, as there seems to be plenty of lemons with each brand, and it’s just a matter of whether you get one or not.
I sometimes wonder whether to get a photo printer because I would love to print more of my photos. But it probably just makes more financial sense to order prints when I want one. The problem with that is that I’m less likely just to try printing a photo I like.
I agree that it is the luck of the draw. Let us not even discuss paper choices. 
Laser printers are more reliable. The most fun I have had was with dot matrix printers: the sound, the art, the paper and the smell. I loved all of it!