When a Type1 font is sent to a non-postscript printer, say a home office laser printer, what happens? and is it really detrimental to the output? When a PDF containing embedded Type1 fonts and illustrator or freehand vector art is printed to a non-postscript printer, what happens? and is it really detrimental to the output?

Empirical evidence suggests that subtle curves come out jagged, is this the case? Is there a way to print a postscript document to a non-postscript printer without degrading the quality, or is there no qualitative difference to begin with?