At this point, I am positive the HP printer marketing department, have lost their collective minds.
Most marketing departments are retarded, but this seems to be a new level of dumb. Bricking printers, blocking 3rd party, messing with firmware, price gouging..
Brother are simple, reliable, low cost and dependable. Every one I have used in commercial or watched in home use have been straight up boss. I don't own one, but it will be my next printer when the Epson runs out of ink, mark my words!
They do it because they can get away with it. Zero consequences, and they still have a legion of customers who are happy to piss their money down the drain on egregiously overpriced ink.
I totally agree with you: Brother laser printers all the way.
I'm so glad I just happened to get a Brother. It was the cheapest one that had the features I wanted (that wasn't from a completely unknown brand) and it wasn't an HP. I've been nothing but happy with mine and seeing all the love Brother printers get it feels like I totally lucked out.