content: We do a lot less printing than we used to, so it's making the printer companies more desperate to generate money from a smaller number of users.  Printers themselves are generally loss leaders, and they make their money on ink and other consumables. Some printer manufacturers are doing the smart thing and charging a little more for the printer, and making the consumables a lot more economical, so you're not as tempted to use a third party.  This is a much more transparent solution than killing off competition through legal loopholes.