I actually enjoyed doing the lab work more than taking the pictures! Unfortunately, Kodak just announced that they're getting out of the B&W photographic paper buisness, but I believe you can still get Agfa, Ilford, and many others as well.
The wide variety of what you can do in the lab is really stunning. I loved using "alternative" chemistries as well. For instance, I used Kodak Tri-X Pan 400 speed film, but regularly shot it at 3200 or 6400 speed (3 or 4 stops underexposed) but used a chemistry from a company called Perfection Photographic Products, and got extremely good results, with good contrast and without alot of grain, which you would normally get. I was doing alot of indoor sports photography for my college paper, and couldn't use a flash.
It was a blast.
Mark
I eventually bought a tabletop processor, but rolled many a tube in the bath tub, waiting for the results. (Nowadays, I use a proLab for anything that needs archival processing.)
It produced BRILLIANT color prints, from slides. It was easy. It was VERRRRRY forgiving, and the results were usually AWESOME, when everything was done properly.
As for paper, Ilford has always been good for me...
I started taking pics for the HS year books, then spent time as a voluntary ships photograper during my 3 WesPacs. I had a darkroom onboard ship, in officers quarters, and the ship paid for all the tours I wished to accompany. I saw lots of every country we visited...
My background paid off. I used my skills as a photog, to document the production of nearly 500 homes, while I was a building contractor. I had a gallery to display my wares, which helped me sell more houses... My ex-wife destroyed all the photos, and negs! She knew they were important to me!