Evan,
I don't know where you're getting your information as it is incomplete and contrary to almost everything that has been posted about sand filters in the past. First, channeling will occur with an oversized pump. Why don't you state that? When the pump and filter are properly sized this is not an issue. Next, backwashing will break up any clumps on the surface unless something has gotten into the filter to goo it up, like baquagoo. Next, sand doesn't have to be routinely 'cleaned', again, unless something has gotten into it to cause problems. Finally, for 9 seasons I never had a problem and the only time I dumped the sand was to make a unique addition to let me drain it better for winterizing. And I put the same sand back. Never added, never changed, never got my hands messy.
Now...I'm tempted to exercise my power as a moderator and lock this thread but I won't. Not yet. It has gotten completely off topic and as Dave said, is misleading to inexperienced people. Enough of this sand filter nonsense and misinformation. Guess I'm just a little rattled right now.
Al