The OP's advice was the right advice for a long time. Occasional users were far better off with a laser, because of the reasons he gave.

But the advent of continuous ink printers has turned that on it's head. Continuous ink jet are colour (not marvellous colour, around the same standard a laser - but still), cheaper than the laser equivalents, cheaper per page and to address the direct concern about longevity some come with 12,000 pages of ink in the box which means they require 0 maintenance or supplies (except paper) for the life of the printer.

Then again I have those ecotank things, and dear lord, it needs 3 prints before it makes a clear print. I did the cleaning/calibration etc, doesn't matter. It's draft printing mode is apparently a while different way of printing, because that's broken beyond repair.