But you can't necessarily assume that one company operates simply in reaction to what the next guy is doing.
True, there are other factors at work, but it's likely that Epson knew or had predictions of what Canon just announced and what is coming from HP. Don't need much of a crystal ball for that one. Which means they've been working on the next printer model for some time now.
However, I don't entirely agree with your comments. Market share in a product segment that looks like it's headed towards commoditization and heavy competition (which the high end print market is rapidly moving towards with Canon/HP's recent moves) is virtually everything. If you don't protect your market share, which Epson has right now but is coming under pressure, then typically you're playing a losing hand.
I think Epson, as the market segment leader, will be forced to respond in reaction to Canon and HP attacking their high end printer market in earnest. Sooner rather than later.
That's the way of the high-tech world.
Time will prove which one of us is right. And if it's me, it won't take much time at all.