It sounds like you found the best ink for your needs! All consumers should have that choice rather than be locked into OEM ink via firmware restrictions.

In terms of the quality of third-party ink, your experience isn't entirely uncommon. Some folks have great experiences, some don't. There's a lot of variability by brand. For aesthetic/craft printing, that variability might not be tolerable.

The biggest problem I had researching consumer tips for inkjet ink is that there are NO universal quality standards for third-party brands. Other consumer groups like Consumer Reports don't test third-party ink because the industry is too volatile. The market is confusing, which is a shame. The industry rumor is that the remanufacturing trade group is implementing a certification system at some point, which is sorely needed.