Find a best in class printer from 20 years ago, all patents on it have expired: couldn't you just 'rip it off' excepting design elements that are non-functional

Find a best in class printer from 20 years ago, all patents on it have expired: couldn't you just 'rip it off' excepting design elements that are non-functional? That would give a base to work from, I guess you start simplifying the hardware. Even if it used propriety cartridges at the start it would seem better than a commercial consumer-level printer as you could stop the 'you need all colours to print in plain black (K only)' and 'you can't scan without wasting ink getting the printer ready', etc.. ??