Your pool will be a "Chlorine pool" even if you decide to get a salt generator. A salt generator converts salt into chlorine. You could buy A LOT of chlorine for the price of the generator alone. Then figure in the cost of installation and you could have enough money invested that you could have paid for a top notch service for a couple of years or do it yourself and save even more. You also have to remember that the salt cost money and is close to the same amount if not more than using chlorine. I would never recommend a salt generator mainly because now you swim in salt water (YUK) which you can taste and feel on your skin. And it is NOT cost effective at all. My advice is spend some money on a big DE filter and have the best water around!

my answers to your questions.....

1. Yes there are different generators and I am sure there are some that last longer than others or some that outperform others. But, they are all expensive and they all break at some point.

2. I have seen a few switch to salt generators. They spent big money buying the equipment and having it installed. Then when they broke they either paid big money AGAIN or went back to the right way of doing the pool.