I will add that I'm going into my 9th season with the same sand and have no intention of changing.
I will disagree slightly with Watermom: People who learn how to use DE filters don't seem to have much trouble with them very often, and usually from poor maintenance. My dad ran a DE for many years with no problem. The same is even more true of cartridge filters. Those who master them, love them beyond all others. Those who don't master cartridge filters (which seem to be a quite high %) can't stand the "troublesome things". It all has to do with figuring out the best and easiest way to clean the cartridge.

Saying that, I use sand, occasionally the DE trick, and have no intention of changing. It IS perhaps the easiest filter to learn to use and to maintain.