Epson Printers Ink Ripoff Costs & Unreliable Performance Long Beach California

I have an Epson Stylus CX8400 copier and printer that has been unreliable from the beginning. Worse though, is the cost of an ink cartridge at $18.00 in Staples or Office Depot. There are several reliable firms that provide remanufactured cartridges for $7.95 each. Epson apparently has installed software that precludes any but their cartridges from being operational. From my viewpoint, this is restriction of trade and most likely some other legal violations. I have the printer set on "Black Ink Only" yet the three other colored cartridges deplete almost at the same rate! Customer service stated, "It uses some colored ink for each printing to insure print quality." If that isn't the most insulting reply which defies logic. Also, the printer currently won't print even though it sounds as though it is as the paper slowly makes it's way through. But, out comes a blank page! I spoke with customer service yesterday, Wed. Oct. 7, 2009, and the CS Rep was the most arrogant and condescending person I have ever encountered with tech services. The problems were not resolved. Needless to say, he was in a foreign country. Further, I also own a Epson Stylus 9400 fax and copier. It is down also and is intentially disabled since a Magenta cartride is purportedly empty. I installed a remanufactured cartriddge which again it would not recognize stating "Cartridge not recognized." I wanted to send a fax today which uses NO INK but it would allow me to use the fax function! Incredible! Additionally, both of these units get very little use since they are located in my home, especially the fax/copier. At most there has only been perhaps 20 faxes since new and maybe 50 copies made. If anyone can tell me how the colored cartridges get depleted when it is set to "Black Ink Only" would be appreciated. I am going to file a compaint with the CDalifornia Attorney General's office within the next thirty days. Dishonest and deciteful companies need to be reported for the benefit of society.  d**k