I also have a hayward xtream cartridge filter, and am very happy with it. What is so hard cleaning it? It takes me 10 min tops to spray down with a hose. Plus, my water has been crystal clear with it so far. I used to have (inherited from previous owner) a hayward sand filter, and they're a pain. I constantly battled cloudy water the 2 years I had it . If you get a lot of leaves and tree junk like i do, cleaning the cartridge every couple weeks or so is a lot easer than cleaning or replacing the sand. Leaves and large debris will not backwash out, and WILL cause algae blooms. Also, if that goofy gasket for the multiport valve decides to go, you're gonna have a real fun time replacing it. A lot of sand owners here use the DE trick, which is fine, I guess. But if a product doesn't do the job you want it to do, or the way it's supposed to, why invest your hard-earned money on it?