Hi Mike. The following are answers to your questions on the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820: 1. You can temporarily print with black when a color ink cartridge has been expended. 2. The Document Cover (also known as a "scanner cover") can stay open at 90-degree, and 3. Using the T822XL ink cartridges, the ISO page yield is 1,100 in black. Regards, Bobby - The Epson Team.