Regarding your equipment questions . . . I don't have personal experience, and too much of the info on the Internet -- even in forums -- is distorted in various ways. The information about above-ground equipment is particularly unreliable.

The simplest answer is: you have a set up that seems to work well for you, and keep the pool clean. I'd stick with it. Changing things around might mean changing EVERYTHING around. For example, you could install a Hayward S210T93S ProSeries 21 . . . and it would likely out perform what you have. But you'd need to install a ball valve between the pump and filter: the pump is -- as is TYPICAL -- much too big for the filter.

In the pool industry (as in so many others) "New & Improved" is often a lie, and almost never really true! Keep in mnd, "updated engineering" usually means "engineered to SELL!".

Good luck!