Yes, I mostly avoid the MBP in favor of my iPad. The iPad is much more fun.
I have gotten surprisingly good prints from low resolution images, using my Epson, and good paper, but I would rather work with larger image sizes. Work and save at the best resolution possible, rather than resizing, if you want to print. That said, when I need to upscale an image Big Photo does a good job. It works best up to 200%, but I have pushed it farther, with success. PerfectResize gives you even more leeway.
I do print from my MacBook Pro, and my wider printer when I am making an "art" print, and I have a cheap wireless Epson printer, which I use from my iPad. It makes decent prints, but with less control. DPI/PPI and target size matter when you know how you want to use your images. A huge part of the value of digital image making is developing your eye, your skills, and vision -- think about the technology when it serves your purposes todo so, but don't let it get in the way of your fun and visual explorations.