This has been something that has been bugging me for a long time so here goes...

Do Inkjet/Laserjet printer manufacturers think consumers are utterly daft and in the process have they created a culture of disposable printers?

The issue at stake here is the utterly ludicrous prices being charged for replacement cartridges and/or toner for consumer printer products. In most cases it's simply cheaper to go out and buy a brand new printer (including Ink/Toner) than to replace the Ink or Toner on it's own.
I'm not just talking about entry level printers here either. A while ago I was interested in a colour laser printer from HP that was retailing in the region of about +- R2K. My immediate question to the sales person was 'How much does it cost to replace the toner?' - 'About R900 per colour' was the reply.
What the hell? R3600 to replace the toner on a printer that costs R 2000 including Toner.

Yes I know that they will tell you that the Ink/Toner supplied with the printer is 'only half full' and that's the reason why the replacements are so expensive. Utter BS! Even if that were the case, then what about the cost of the Hardware in the printer? Does this amount to basically nothing?

As a consumer I know when I'm being ripped off and I really get that feeling here.
So I have decided to follow the example of a number of people I know : When the ink runs out - Buy a new Printer rather than replace the ink - Because it's cheaper, you get a brand new machine and a new warranty.
The manufacturers are responsible for this highly environmentally unsound practice.

Another case in point is those combo Printer/Scanners etc. Most of them will refuse to scan a document once the ink runs out. WTF? What has scanning got to with printing? Another clever ploy to get you to buy their 'Millionaire' ink or Toner.

Last thought: What does one really need to print out nowadays in any event? Apart from photo's and perhaps colour brochures etc. (which can all be handled off site in any event), is it really necessary to print anything?
Perhaps we are moving closer to that paperless society than we think, especially with the arrival of tablets in the mainstream and due to the greed of the manufacturers of printers, ink and toners.

Well said Jason!

My brother, as you know, is quite heavily involved in professional photography.
He keeps a photo-quality inkjet at home for printing the occasional personal family snaps he does for himself or for CD/DVD covers and the like.

All of the rest of his 'Pro' work he sends off to a commercial print shop, because of the reasons mentioned previously in this thread and also, it's often enlargements, coffee table books or large 'block' prints which he then has framed. He reckons it's more cost effective for him to do it that way, than doing it himself.