I feel your pain. I had a HP Laserjet 1020 and the toner cartridges were about $120 each. I was able to buy them afor2/$160 and use a coupon as well a few years ago. I moved and also got a new computer and the printer didn't work. So I bought an HP inkjet. Ink doesn't last nearly as long but it still is cheaper.
BTW - in all the kerfufful.... I think the printer didn't work because it never was plugged into the wall? But the printer was long gone when I discovered that!
The Laser printer was also nearly 20 years old. Bought when the lasers went common and cheap!