I really appreciate your comments, waterbear (is it al? Evan? something like that I think).

You are correct about the hose length. I went thru all those steps with a very helpful customer service team. I did shorten my hose a bit last season. It did help immensely. I added the shorter cylce valve. I tried new wheels (and switched back). The customer service was exceptional. I just still find myself spending untold hours fiddling with the damn thing. I don't think I'm being anal, but maybe I am. I just think a large swath of dirt on the incline looks bad. I even used to get INTO the pool and drive the stupid thing around myself! But it did get better with the new valve and the shorter hose. In addition, I bought a PoolBuster and now I just use that. It beats the heck out of hooking up my manual vacuum and hose. I guess in hindsight, I just really wish I knew about the Dolphin before I bought the Polaris. At least it wouldn't be so RANDOM.

I appreciate everyone's comments. I do really have to wonder if there is something else going on with mine...