leanIE
There doesn't seem to be any "Free" related software at the AutoDesk site link you gave. Are you refering to the "Trial Software" CD?
I too am in the market for raster to vector software. I recently saw an advertisement for a program named Scan2CAD that prices out at $249-$399US. They claim to have a better algorhythm. Does anyone have experience with this software?
With HP Printers, I have found that the PCL drivers exhibit the problem you have when printing TIF files and sometimes PDF files.
Download, install and use the latest PS (PostScript)drivers and the problem is resolved.
I still use the PCL drivers for AutoCAD plotting.