I will add my '2 cents worth' and totally agree with David on his choices. After buying the 'alternative system' I decided it didn't do what I wanted it to do and have kept my HP4550 and upgraded to an Epson 4800 ... which I LOVE by the way ... I don't see how anyone doing sublimation with any mid-hi level of production gets by with a 1280 (my personal experience, of coure).
I like the 4550 for, as does David for mostly black on silver/gold plates ... plus this printer serves as my office printer and switching the toner cartridge to a sublimation toner cartridge is about a 1 minute process with no residual toner particals/ mess to deal with.