Conan
You're absolutely correct. I was recently at a seminar at a very well-known American Ink manufacturer* and learned that it would cost $89,000 to fill the tank of the average family car with ink-jet ink (not that you'd want to).
Tip - the japanese printers tend to be cheaper on a cost-per-print basis
*AKA Printer donator.. second word ends in 'ackard'..