When it comes to Toner are we Green or Mean?

This brief expose gives a little insight into the toner industry and the purchasing habits of the consumer. There are differing views on the topic regarding the use of Oem toner versus remanufactured toner in photocopiers, printers and faxes in today's world.
With the proliferation of what is considered alternate supplier toner in the market place it is easy to assume that the decision is one of expense. After all are we not, at large, a cost conscious race? I tend to believe this to be more factual than subscribing to the ideal that the purchaser is becoming more environmentally aloof and makes the decision to use the lesser priced product in order to support recycling and indeed the planet per se.
In years gone by the top quality of supply was rather variable at best. However, with many properly setup manufacturing plants supplying the market place these days it is not so difficult to find quality products.
Producers of Oem toner would obviously like to protect their place in the industry and to date have tried many varied methods to curb the exponential use of foreign products in their machines. This raises still another point and that is the issue of the individuals rights. My thoughts - The normal warranty is usually twelve months so wait it out if you wish the security and peace of mind that a warranty provides. Beyond warranty this is no longer an issue but perhaps is the biggest reason behind the obvious built in redundancy of machines. This appears most transparent by the regular occurence of new model marketing.
At the bottom end of the marketplace the Printers, Faxes and MFC's are generally so affordable that replacement is no longer an arm and a leg financially yet the average business owner will do the obvious and attempt to get yet more time from their tired machine prior to finally accepting the obvious.
Which ever way you put it Pirate Consumable, Laser Toner, Toner Cartridges etc part of today's world.
The failure of a alternate supplied toner may have the consumer reverting back to Original manufacturer product for a period of time but the far cheaper alternate commodity is certain to lure the purchaser again.
Indeed, to be perfectly blunt, the Original manufacturer could advance their position in the market place by reducing their toner prices. Yeah right!
Currently, reputable remanufacturers go so far as to guarantee product performance of their commodity and this as well as a generously reduced price all makes for a good deal.
There are pitfalls in the industry with regards to excellence of product so asking pertinent questions of the supplier i.e. Does the company test the product before marketing? - and most important - DO YOU GUARANTEE THIS Product?
A 100% GUARANTEE on quality and yield should be the minimum normal requirement of all who purchase parallel supply copier, printer and fax consumables.
So! if we aren't buying Oem are we Conservation conscious or just astute buyers after the better deal?
In conclusion I would say, apart from the uncommon consumer and possible lack of awareness of supply or contractual arrangement, toner is purchased according to price. I am yet to be convinced that we have advanced enough as a race to extend more than lip service to the 'Green Planet' concept when it comes down to the bottom line.