Printers are crap because most people don't need to print much, so most printers that are sold are basically the equivalent of the shaving stick that's sold only to enable the sales of replacement razor blades (ink cartridges).

Ink is expensive because again: Most people don't print much, and most people have printers that that have some very specific ink cartridge and will blindly buy the manufacturer brand ink because it's easier that way.

If you print much, pay for a reasonable laser printer, and your experience and cost per page are both much better.