Years ago I took a workshop with master printer Jim Megargee, and he recommended Ethol LPD developer. I've been happily using it ever since. It's extraordinarily versatile, cheap, and lasts an absurdly long time. One interesting feature of LPD is that you can control the tone by changing the dilution.
I mix up a gallon of stock solution from a can of powder; once it's cool I usually use it diluted 1:2 or 1:3 for fairly neutral tones with most papers. I reuse "seasoned" developer, replenishing with some fresh stock and water at each print session, according to Jim's recommendations, and have found that 1 gallon of mixed stock will make literally three or four hundred 8x10 prints.
