Hi frostymusic,
I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.
I think it is important for everyone to have a good working computer printer because everyone every now and then will need to print something from document, or picture, etc... I also think that it is important to try and conserve paper as much as you can.
As for deciding on what printer to buy, that is really subjective and very much depends upon how much you can afford to spend and your needs, like do you need to print a lot of documents, or pictures, etc... because then you have to check their monthly "duty cycle" specifications to see how many pages they can safely print in a month. Do you want to print on CD/DVD or Blu-Ray discs. Obviously, the printer would have to work with Linux and a lot of them do, but check the printer's make and model to make sure it has Linux drivers before purchasing it. I personally recommend getting an "All In One" multi-function printer (MFP) that can print, scan, and or fax since their pricing is about the same as most printers that can only print.
HP printers and their multi-function printers (MFP) work great and have superb Linux drivers for their printers, scanners, and fax functions. The only thing I don't like about HP printers is the cost of their ink which is in my humble opinion very pricey although you sometimes can find discounts. It is also hard to find 3rd party compatible HP printer cartridges that work well. Also, you can save money if the printer has separate color cartridges.
Some of the newer printers from Epson and some other printer manufacturers have large economy ink options like the Epson EcoTank printers some come with 2 years of ink. I would recommend an Epson EcoTank MFP printer, make sure there are Linux drivers for the particular model before purchasing one.
Epson EcoTank printers - Kiss expensive cartridges goodbye. EcoTank comes with a RIDICULOUS amount of ink.
https://epson.com/ecotank-ink-tank-printers
I have an HP Officejet 4110 that's over 10 years old and although the fax and scanner still worked, it did not print well any more. I thought about getting new ink cartridges, but they cost almost as much as buying a new low-end printer that comes with ink? At the moment, I did not have much to spend, and the Brother MFC-J491DW was only $49.99us with printer, scanner, and fax and has various options the older printers did not have like WiFi and smartphone applications (apps). The Brother ink is around half of the cost of HP ink. Brother also have Linux drivers that I installed although I think it would have worked without downloading and installing those. The only thing I have not figured out yet is how to fax a document from the computer through the Brother printer's fax although you can fax directly from the printer like a stand-alone fax machine.
Amazon.com: Brother Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer, MFC-J491DW, Multi-Function Color Printer, Duplex Printing, Mobile Printing,Amazon Dash Replenishment Enabled: Office Products
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C4 ... UTF8&psc=1
Hope this helps ...
. I have had terrible luck with Epsons. I also have a lot of clients calling me to fix them. I tell them they are throw away printers like the rest. 
