There are those who want to be in control of every step in the process and others who are happy to press the shutter and then turn the rest of the steps over to someone else. It is important to assess where you fall within that spectrum.
Some are happy to have a print in a few days. Others of us sometimes decide at 11PM that we want a print by 11:30PM.
It is very difficult to cost justify having your own printer. Likewise, one really cannot cost justify what most of us pay for cameras as it would be cheaper to simply buy stock photos. Let us not deceive ourselves. We do what we do because we want to, not because it makes economic sense.
10-12 years ago I participated in a number of print exchanges where 12 people would send 12 copies of the same print to the organizer. Ten days later, everyone would receive 12 different prints. So, I have seen very many prints from different people. I was always amazed at the high quality of prints people could make from printers that internet lore said were incapable of making such. I know I have proudly exhibited prints made many years ago on a $79 Epson using 3rd party inks. I look at some of those prints today and find them not lacking at all. I must admit that the newer printers make it much easier however.
Just like cameras, the quality of the final printed output is 99% user skill and 1% equipment. If you want to make your own prints, buy a printer. If you are happy with someone else doing that part of the process, then let someone else do it.
