>Can you confirm whether I understood this correctly: the "GDI crap" has no built-in fonts, and no "text-mode", whatsoever?
>

That's the idea. Some printers that support GDI mode also have a print processor (eg the HP LaserJet 2100, which has both an internal PCL engine and a GDI driver) but not at the low-end; the idea is that by removing the print engine, they're cutting cost and providing a universal print interface. This is the same idea as the wunnerful WinModem technology (save the cost of a $2 DSP chip and eat the CPU instead). I don't support it for larger-volume printing - it simply is not practical.