CUPS has always had a configurable set of "Default Options" for a print queue.
system-config-printer also enables editing these.
But applications (see below) seem to completely ignore these! I'm sure (I've been using Debian/Ubuntu for 10 years) they didn't use to ignore them.
Is there some issue somewhere? Or a configuration option I've got wrong somewhere? Or a fix/workaround?
I've noticed that if I create a new user, the defaults are there. So there must be a user setting somewhere - But where?!
Specifics
I know there's no point asking a question like this without specifics, so here you go:
applications which disrespect defaults: Firefox, DigiKam, EOG ("Image Viewer"), LibreOffice 3, Thunderbird, Evince ("Document Viewer"). I haven't found a single application that does respect the defaults.
Environment: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS with Gnome Shell.
Printer driver (stock, from Ubuntu): "HP Photosmart 7510 Series, hpcups 3.12.2"
A specific example is that the default options say: duplex, "best" quality, "plain paper", but the apps all default to non-duplex, "high resolution photo" quality, "photo paper". This means it takes 10 minues per sheet, and costs a fortune in ink!