After printing on the exact same printer for 8+ years, I think there is another factor with this prints are too dark issue: We need to train ourselves. I still occasionally catch myself digitally developing an image that really is too dark. I can somewhat get away with in on screen. Heck, sometimes images I post on-line get rave reviews. Then after several months I go to print that image and it is too dark. But it's not really the print that is too dark, it is the image.
Dave
I separate out the issue of printing, and "too dark," issues from the monitor surround, and hard/soft proofing by the simple expedient of printing a known reference image.
The advantage of a known reference image is that comparing them is, for the most part, not dependent on the illuminant. A previously created reference image and a print of the same will appear to be identical outside of possible metameric failure. The latter only occurs if the spectral response of the print and reference image differs materially and it usually is a secondary effect at most and is always insignificant if the paper has no OBs and the two are viewed in daylight.
My reference image of choice is a ColorChecker and the compared print is a print of the same ColorChecker image using Absolute Colorimetric. When I do that I don't even look at the CC image on the monitor. It's monitor appearance has no affect on printing. If the print and Colorchecker match, and they will if color management including the profile is correct, then any and all issues of prints being too dark, etc., are due to editing and viewing on the monitor side. It's that simple.