When we talk about DVD's (identical title), there is no difference
from one to another. They are made identically.
If you can get the
same DVD for $ 2 that others pay $ 20 for, it's a bargain. In reality
the DVD's in the $ 2 section are NEVER the same as the $ 20 ones.
I don't know about that. I will say that there are differences with
DVD's under the same title. For example one might be dual layer HQ and
a cheaper edition might be single layer SP. This is typicaly labled.
For example a friend for my b-day bought me Monk season 1 a 4 disc
DVD-9. But eventually your average DVD hits the bargin bins which were
at one time $20 movies just priced less.
But I agree in some ways it's just like DVDs. A DVD-5 SP is lesser
quality than a DVD-9 HQ. But the SP version will still be totally
watchable. Some people might want the HQ edition, others don't care.
Still others can't tell the difference.
http://www.neilslade.com/Papers/inktest.html
For the *most part* oem inks are going to be better. Typicaly they are
going to be more light fast and the software will be color calibrated
to them. There are exceptions but not in the bargin hunter department.
It's a question of whether, in the case of canon inks, whether it's
worth it to spend $3000+/gal on the OEM ink which is lightfast for
about 25/30 years according to their internal tests under glass on
their premium paper [sub 10 years if exposed to air] or $300/gal for
something that looks pretty good that might not be *as* lightfast.
And in the case with the canon, it doesn't ruin the printer. I imagine
the stuff I use "could" ruin the printhead, a $60 to $80 item, but
considering the service manual says the max life is about 10 cartridge
changes, i'm not too worried about it. The stuff i'm using works well,
doesn't clog, and is cheap enough so I can produce as many large prints
as I want without it costing hundreds of dollars.
But I understand where you are comming from. You feel the OEM product
will extend the life of your product. For all I know you could be
right. But you asked about the "Ecconomic justification", and thus far
if my printhead failed today and I had to shell out $60 to $80 for a
new one... I still would have saved money. Ecconomicly i'm 100%
justified with my choice.