Title says it all. I'd like 2 media trays, 1 for letter and the other for 11x17. The HP 5500 is what I've always had at my desk at work (other than the super expensive all in ones that people share, which is overkill for my needs). Do I really have to pay $2k for something so simple as a color laserjet that can print on 11x17? Models that can print on legal are only a few hundred bucks. Any suggestions?

The reason the ones that can print on legal are so cheap is because they can use the same (smaller) drums for printing letter size (same width). Going up to 11x17 puts you into the next class of larger internals.

Is this your way of gently informing me that I will indeed be dropping $2k for my 11x17 color laser printer?

Basically. You might be able to find a good used one with low page count...

do you need the laserjet, or would ink jet work? We use an epson 7520 at the office with 2 trays (legal and 11x17). I think they run around $400.