Having now upgraded my monitors (EZIO ColorEdge CG243W) and the printer (PRO-1) and acquired a ColorMunki Photo, I now have end (Camera) to end (Printer) color calibration for my photography.
Cheap: not on your life
Worth It: Absolutely.
What I see on my screen is what appears on my printer. No shading, color shifting, or approximations. My older printer was good, and when calibrated using the ColorMunki produces 'OK' results. The PRO-1 matches what is on the screen.
The major change was in getting the new monitors. Even without the ColorMunki the newer monitors, uncalibrated -- just straight out of the box -- were superior to the older monitors I had been using for many years.
Am I satisfied after spending many 1000's upgrading my color print process? Yes.
And now I think I'll start printing more photos and join a couple of art groups in the local area. I've had friends and relatives after me to do this for some time, and I've always held off because I thought that my prints just were not good enough. Now they are.