There is a lot of merit behind that suggestion.
One could download software for Windows or Linux to create PDF files, or for price of a modest inkjet printer or a couple of cartridges, buy Adobe Acrobat (not Reader) and then create, touch up, colorize pdf files to your heart's content, exchange them via email, etc. Other options include using OS X, it has built in ability to create PDF files from within any application, no Acrobat needed.
Nice thing about Adobe is that you can password protect files, create forms, etc. Never once need to touch a printer.