Josh,

I have nothing against SWGs--as I've said I've looked and looked at them but just cannot justify them in MY installation when I do the cost versus the benefit for ME.

In my pool the water feels very soft--I accidentally added about 160 lbs of softener sea salt to it (don't ask...) That "feel" can be gotten with a few bags of sea salt--40lb bags are, what?, $5 each.

If the idea is the "feel", it's STILL a lot less expensive to just add some salt and to stay ahead of your water. There's no compelling reason not to (unless you have a low-sodium swimmer).

The two main advantages I see to SWG is GREATLY reduced chorine purchases (meaning taking the time and effort to buy and carry the stuff home--lots of gallons, jug disposal, handling, etc) and less maintenance--you can pretty much leave your pool for a week if you go away without worry, and if you schedule is SO crazy you can't always get to the pool, it can help to have an SWG.

Of course, the obvious third reason is if you plan on selling your house in the near future an SWG already installed makes a pool FAR more attractive to a novice ("you don't need to add chlorine--it makes its own").

If these reasons are compelling enough for you and your lifestyle, by all means, install an SWG. There are lots of good ones out there.