First let me say that I favor cartridge filters. Now on to some USEFUL info to help you make a decision. (or my filter choice rant, if you prefer to call it that!)
DE will filter to about 6 microns, Carts to about 20....Not too shabby, IMHO
A PROPERLY SIZED cart is not a lot of maintenance, Hose off the cart once a month (10 minutes), soak it yearly (overnight)
DE needs to be backwashed or broken down to be cleaned....a lot of work to break it down plus you have to replace the water lost by backwashing.
A properly cared for cartridge can last 5 years but they can be pricy to replace. DE powder is cheap.
DE powder can cause silacosis if inhaled....need to be careful with it in dry form.
If you want the cleanest, most polished water you can get in you pool get a DE filter. If you will settle for a close second then a Cart is good.
Probably the WORST filter you can get is an UNDERSIZED cart for you pool. Oversize it a bit.
A dirty cart will actually filter better than a clean one (to a point). It can filter down to about 10 microns, dirty DE just stops filtering. A dirty DE filter will cut your flow rate down and cause your pressure to rise much faster than a dirty cart.

Bottom line is both will perform very well if sized properly. DE is a bit more work, especially when you have to break it down, which should be done yearly or more often, depending on how dirty it gets. If the DE filter allows you to backwash (some don't) then that is an option (but not a good one, IMHO. explanation below)

I don't think backwashing a DE filter is a good idea....Can any DE owners tell me what happens to the grids when you run your filter without DE in it?
The grids get clogged with dirt and covered with organics that stick to them and make the DE stick to the grids and you need to break the filter down and clean the grids. Right DE owners?
NOW, what happend when you backwash? You are forcing the water backwards through the grids.....the grids get clogged and dirty with the same organics! Is it any wonder than when you do break down the filter to clean it the DE is caked together on the grids and the grids are clogged? IMHO, when it is time to clean a DE filter it needs to be broken down and cleaned , not backwashed.
Now on to 'bumping' a DE filter....You knock the layer of dirt that is sittiing on the grids and the DE off the grids so the dirt and DE mix together and then the grids recoated with dirty DE. IMHO, this does not make for good filtration. Dirty DE is dirty DE!
Once again I stress that if you want the clearest water you can get then DE IS the way to go....but there is work involved.
Carts are a close second and the amount of work is much less IF THE CART IS SLIGHTLY OVERSIZED for your pool.
If you want the easiest filter to maintain then you want sand. It filters to about 60 microns which really isn't that shabby and backwashing works well with a sand filter. They still should be broken down about once a year and the sand cleaned and checked for channeling.

In actual practice you wll be happy with any filter you pick..All three types do a good job with different tradeoffs. You just have to decide which one is right for you!