Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

I'm new to this group. As short introduction: afters years of 
printmaking and painting I recently returned to my first love in arts: 
photography. I'm doing both digital and analog (view camera), both in 
color and B&W. I'm still struggling with my workflow and, consequently, 
with my digital print quality, but it this is what I plan:
1) revert to a hybrid analog/digital workflow for the view camera 
(digital scanning, editing & printing of analog negatives).
2) setting up a decent, fairly full-fledged, color management system 
(apart from improving print quality I need something anyhow since I do 
my edit work on different locations, light settings and monitors)
3) dedicate a specific printer for B&W prints. Presently I have an 
Epson 2100, that might either remain my color printer or could become 
the B&W printer.

My question to you is on the choice inks and color management sytem. I 
would appreciate a workflow that is (nearly) identical for color and 
B&W. I have done some homework (read all of Clayton's articles, many of 
PAul's, several threads in this group, the MIS site, the QTR site and 
had chats with a GretagMcBeth supplier). But still, I find the topic 
pretty confusing (having conceptual knowledge of color spaces and 
profiles but no hands-on experience with CMS and RIPs so far).

On ink: What I understand is that MIS UT-3D inks are specifically 
designed to work with a CMS. I think I do understand why. I'm happy to 
compromise on the fact that they can not print sepia. So that seems a 
logical choice. Right? Are there dealers in Europe/Netherlands/UK? Does 
anyone know if and when spongeless cartridges for the 2100 become 
available? Any comments on the Lyson Quad Black Variable tone inks that 
I can find more easily here? By the way: I definitely take black-only 
printing serious as well. 

On CMS: I'm considering GretagMacBeth Eye-one Photo. Pretty steep 
price, but if it does the job as I expect I might go for it. Cheaper 
alternative would be a Pantone Huey + Monaco EZcolor. What I'd expect 
is to have the exact same profiling procedure for color and for B&W. So 
no need to adapt printer curves in photoshop or use a RIP. Or do I 
still have to tweak to get the best results? It the latter is the case 
one can question whether to have the burden of BOTH a CMS and curve 
tweaking is attractive? Does a CMS work equally well for UT-3D and 
black-only (I DO understand that one does not actually NEED it, but it 
would keep the workflows similar.).

Apologies for all those questions. Especially since probably all 
fragments have been covered over and over here. But it's difficult to 
see the big picture if you start from the bottom. 

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,

Joost