I've had an LS-2000 for five years, maybe longer. I still use it occasionally. It is a reliable unit and works well. It is capable of making excellent scans, although it takes some practice and some work to get the best results. Here are a couple observations:
1. Over time, the mirror and optics attract dust and grime which noticeably degrades the image quality. I think they should be professionally cleaned, although some advocate do it yourself methods. Any decent camera shop should be able to do the cleaning.
2. The resolution (2700 ppi) is not equivalent to what is now available, although some could argue how much information is in a 35mm negative. I generally found that with work I could produce digital prints that were equally acceptable to optical prints. That is totally a subjective statement however and involves all kinds of judgments about noise, grain, viewing conditions, etc.
3. The digital ICE software for scratch and dust removal doesn't work for B&W negatives (or for Kodachrome).
4. The unit requires a SCSI interface. As I recall, the unit came with a SCSI board (but I may have had to buy that separately--I'm not sure). It is definitely not plug and play, so expect to spend a little time on set up.
5. Getting the best results sometimes requires two scans per negative to maximize dynamic range. For color work, expect to spend time color balancing.
6. Not all films scan equally well. For B&W, I had decent results with T Max. Films with very dense shadows, like Velvia, can be a challenge, as can grainy films.
My own experience was that when I bought the scanner, I quickly went to almost all digital printmaking, largely because of the ability to do good color work in a home "darkroom." When I bought my first DSLR, I quickly abandoned film, largely because a digital camera eliminates most noise and grain and eliminates most need for color correction.
If you're interested in scanning, an LS-2000 is probably worth a try. I assume the price isn't too great these days so you won't be risking a whole lot. Make sure you get the SCSI adapter board (if you're using a PC) and cable, as well as the negative carriers and scan software. It would be best if you can see a scan to be sure it's clean (look for halos along high contrast edges). If you have to buy any accessories or pay for a cleaning, the bargain price might not be such a bargain.
If I were going back to B&W film, I think I would probably go all the way back and fire up the enlarger again. But that's just me.
