Any recommendations on the best photo printers now? Looks like the de facto Epson 2200 has been eclipsed by some other printers with higher resolution and at about half the price.

Makes me suspicious...can they actually be that cheap and be better?

I prefer the epson 2200. Resolution is only part of the picture, ink quality, ink drop size, and driver quality all factor into the quality of the finished print. I rarely print at the 2880 dpi that the 2200 is capable of. I print most images at 1440 dpi. The lower resolution uses less ink, prints much faster and produces prints, that in most cases, are indistinguishable from prints made at 2880 dpi. The higher resolution (5760 dpi and such) offered in some printers are really just for marketing purposes in my opinion. I think the Epson R800 will offer some advantages over the 2200 if you prefer glossy prints. But for printing on matte, luster and semi-gloss the 2200 would be my preference.

I sure like mine. Earlier this year I decide to update my photo printer (to the 2200) and my scanner (to an Epson Perfection 3200 Photo). I'm good to go!