>>>>I briefly considered writing reports to (say) PDF files on the host and then somehow getting those files to the remote users, but that would be extra complication for no real gain.
>>>
>>>That was first idea that popped up and if user info can be coupled with email adress probably in long term one of the best maintainance saving options. Even if users have to download after being mailed a DL link, on the users side you are isolated pretty good from OS update harm.
>>
>>If asynchronous printing is OK then that could work well. OTOH if a customer is waiting for a receipt to print, not so much.
>
>In the 2 page summary or application form you are probably almost always certain to be correct. The 200 page budget plan might be faster via PDF route, as you can add compression if not already working via http: - I have no idea if compression is already available via the comm channel to local printer. The ability to start again in case of paper jam or other mishaps is much better with a local file ;-)
>
>And the speed of mail sending can be quite high: If that is an issue, $ spent there might be better investment than in $$$maintaining$$$ printer support via RDS and similar tools. Also think of the road wariors without or with broken small printer or the coming surther surge of mobile only clients wanting to print at EACH customer with the customers own HW ;-))

The other thing about printing to (say) PDF is it can avoid printing on paper entirely. I already get confirmations of various government returns in PDF format; as long as I ensure I have off-site backup I'm quite happy never printing them. I imagine the stereotypical millennial thinks it somewhere between quaint and annoying to get a piece of paper when they could store something on their phone instead.

Sometimes the idea of PDF instead of paper can mean a serious cultural change. But, a number of times over the years I've seen the light bulb come on for small business owners when I've made that suggestion.

I remember seeing some report (IIRC by a consulting firm aiming to get businesses to go paperless) saying that the full lifecycle cost of printing one page of paper is something like $5. The direct printer, ink and paper costs are only a small fraction; larger costs are short- and long-term storage, increased delays in document finding and retrieval compared to computerized, costs of scanning if required again in digital form for any reason (e-mail sending etc.), inability to do wide or global content searches, possibilities of misfiling paper, costs of secure shredding/disposal and recycling if applicable etc.