Digital BW, The Print

As mentioned elsewhere I am new to digital photography and still low on the learning curve.  I would be grateful if anyone can confirm if I am on the right track so far and point out any misunderstandings and maybe answer a couple of questions.

I have an Epson 1500w (identical to Artisan 1430).
Will be using UT14 6-cart set
Mac OS 10.8.2 Mountain Lion
Photoshop Elements 11 with Elements+
QTR 2.7.2
Spyder3elite v4 Spyder3print

I have used QTR using the OEM colour inkset following Paul Roark's tutorial and had some interesting results, which has helped me familiarise myself with QTR.  I have read the tutorials on the QTR site and Paul Roark's related to UT14, some of the contents are a bit beyond my current understanding.

I believe UT14 can be used with both QTR and the standard Epson driver;

With QTR I would use prepared .quad profiles to print from either greyscale or colour images (de-saturated or not).  These profiles could be mixed for split toning, e.g. by having warm, neutral and cool profiles, using QTRs three curve options.  Also one profile could be used just for warm, neutral or cool prints.  I can get pre-prepared profiles (.quad .qidf) or create my own with such as a Spyder3print.

Using the Epson driver an .acv curve is applied to the colour image in the editor, this converts the image, adjusting the colours to "fool" the epson driver, which thinks it is using the standard colour inkset to favour the relevant combination of UT14 carts.  Greyscale or de-saturated images are not used.  Only one .acv curve is applied and should be one of the last actions, following dodging, burning, brightness, contrast etc. There should be an .icc profile matched to the .acv curve to match the image to the paper used, which can also be used in the soft proof facility.

My questions;

1, is my understanding above correct?
2, I am unsure how to produce .quad profiles specifically to take advantage of the tone variations available in the ink set, is there an easy to read article on this?
3, Am I correct in assuming only one .acv curve would be applied in the editor when using the Epson driver, which would have to be produced to either favour one tone or to produce split tone effects? or could more than one curve be applied/blended?
4, is there any easy to read article on producing these .acv curves to utilise UT14?
5, I have practiced with the .acv curves in elements, but whilst waiting for UT14 to clear customs have not been able to make prints.  When applying the ilford-warm curve the image produced seems washed out, soft proofing with what I assume to be the associated .icc profile, gives a similarly washed out and warm image.  Is this normal, or am I on the wrong track here?

thanks

Ross