hi Kevin and welcome to our forum!

I have read your post several times and have some thoughts that you may not care for, but I am inferring some things from your story.

I DO have an SWCG, an Autopilot that is "oversized for my pool for the same reasons as you. I am at the end of my second season with it, after many years of using the BBB system. Guess what? I STILL use the BBB system!

I suspect you have been struggling, not using a good test kit like the Taylor K-2006, and possibly don't have a stabilizer test reading. Why? Because pool care shouldn't be hard, time-consuming or expensive. Plus it should not take up your psychic energy either.

I think you are making an expensive mistake, hoping it will solve problems, that can more easily and cheaply solved by knowledge and testing. Then, when you are comfortable with BBB, that's the time to consider an SWCG.

You can always add an SWCG later.

If you want the softness, just add salt.