That's terrible. When I added a Lexmark printer to my network a year ago, I firewalled it off from the outside world on general principle - it never even occurred to me that a printer manufacturer would make communicating with the mothership a requirement for normal operation. I guess I'm lucky #Lexmark hasn't gone that route.
I'm glad you found something else that works for you. Did you get an #Epson#Ecotank printer? Very cost-effective.
HP disables customers’ printers if they use ink cartridges from cheaper rivals (www.telegraph.co.uk)