I have a Canon Pro-10, and a Pro-1000, as well as a HP Z3200(44"). I came from an Epson 7900, among other Epson models. While I had a love with Epson, I also had a hate. SO after the Pro4K, and the 7900 clogging and inks gone to waste, Also paper path issues....I dropped Epson, and SOOO much happier. Let me stress the word happier. The Canon or HP are not trouble free printers! For example, the HP has some buggy software that they have been improving over the past decade plus. But I do love it, and it is good on inks, heads are replaceable!! BIG FACTOR! and the hardware is mostly very good. Changed belt 2x, and a few other things, but have had it a very long time now.
The Pro-10 is great, and the Pro 1000 is a good amount greater. The Pro1000 is a pretty AMAZING printer. But guess what? Mine is not working perfect anymore. You ask why? Well, I moved it without keeping it level! This is very annoying. If there is such a limitation, you'd think it would be at least labeled with stickers on the opening doors to remind you, and maybe an ATTENTION label on top the printer...Really anything more than inside the manual. I just moved it from upstairs to down stairs, and this was enough to tilt ink into the main area. Otherwise, it is built like a tank. You can learn more about it on youtube watching Jose Rodriguez. I also use the Precision Color inks on it, and that was also working great.
But, now I have to think about taking a DEEP dive into disassembling the thing to clean it properly. It has sat and I have not used it, so its likely got more issues now as well!
So the HP is really still the work horse. Except, I am having trouble clearing a head clog with it now. I am hoping there is an easy way to saturate the tubes!
FYI, all issues I have had other than moving the Pro1K is due to not running the printers. I have to say HP is AMAZING at this. Canon is pretty darn good as well. And I dont have experience with recent Epsons, so I cant comment. But the other 2 HP has a internal ccycle it does and so does Canon, and very little ink is wasted. I also have QImage, and think it is worth getting, as you can program your own intervals from daily to weekly. Also print job management is very nice for gang print layouts.
As far as your first post of which is better....
Print quality has been so good for a number of years on all these brands that the limiting factor is on the users ability to maximize the process in print results.
But as for printer build quality, I would not buy a printer without replaceable print heads.
Hope this helps....Oh..One more thing I would consider, if you have the space, or perhaps it is just doing a job for a specific reason and size...
What ever size you want, go for 1 size larger :-)
I started with 13x19, yet now the 44" is pretty perfect, but a 60" might be even better...LOLOL! nah, 44" is pretty great. But as mentioned if you can squeeze it in, you with have an epiphany breakthrough later. This is also why the Pro1000 is great. 17 wide is just enough to keep someone happy without going off the desk large format for a long time. Also, do not buy these used. They can have issues you simply cannot fix without cost of it being rational.
Take away from my experience for anyone buying a printer...make SURE you use it regularly!