My Mom and Daughter (9) and Grandfather (84) also print from Macs without major issues, FWIW. I am sure a Wintel could also be set-up for them that would print fine too.
I am not a printing expert, but I can understand how PostScript might take longer, but OS X does not have to use PostScript and it's not always recommended. BTW, Postscript is what basically started the DTP revolution and Display PostScript was what made WYSIWYG on Mac desktops doable at time when I don't think there were any WYSIWYG "PCs".
PostScript is not a dirty word.
Macs/Mactels and Wintels on the same network can share a network printer as well. HP has "PostScript" free drivers for OS X so I guess they are using raster, but I really don't know.
A very large number (most, all? I don't know) of HP printers are compatible with both Macs and Wintels and HP is claiming the same PPM rates. I suspect this has some meaning.
Finally, this serious Mac printing issue has eluded me for years and the reviews I recall reading about OS X don't flag it . . . maybe in the OS 9 and earlier days it was more of an issue??
I think what we have is a smelly red herring in the thread.
Best,
Kurt