I don't use a cover, but went and educated myself on them before I even got my pool.
I was warned about leaving the mesh on or in the water over the winter, actually, many people told me to remove the leaf net mesh cover after the leaves have dropped and before the pool freezes and putting a winter cover on at that time.
Reason: The mesh fabric absorbs water into the material, the water freezes and expands, essentially tearing/grinding the matrial appart - I was told that a mesh cover would only last 2-3 years before completely falling appart where it stays in contact with the water/ice.
I checked this out with the manufacturer and they also said it's for leaf collecting purposes only and should not be used as a cover for the winter, and will not warranty it if that's how it will be used.
Winter cover tarps are poly based and don't readily absorb the water around them, making them more resilient to the expanding ice.