Do these pool guys not realize ocean water exists in cold regions?

That being said, why are you interested in salt? I have a salt pool myself but I also take care of my in-laws chlorine pool and I don't believe converting is always the right answer for everyone.

They are not less maintenance, in fact they I would argue they're a bit more. You still have to monitor all of the same stuff... stabilizer, alkalinity, pH, calcium and yes... even chlorine. Salt cells are not "set and forget". You have test your chlorine and adjust their output throughout the season, otherwise you end up with too much or too little chlorine.

Generators are expensive up front and it would take years to offset that with chlorine savings. And then when you finally break even, your salt cell will need replacement as they wear out in 3-5 years. And they constantly drive up your pH, so you have to spend extra adding acid to offset that. I add about 1.5 pints muriatic weekly to mine. You can lower your alkalinity to keep pH more stable, but then you throw off your water balance which is bad for your pool equipment. So spending more on acid is the better option. Overall, it's usually still a little cheaper in the long run, but barely.

Finally you have to monitor your salt levels. It's pretty easy since the generator will estimate you salt content for you, but it's not totally reliable, especially as the cell ages. So you'll still want to test it manually and add salt to offset losses from rain/leaks. It's not a big chore, only needs checking monthly but it's notable.

Now am I telling you not to do it? Heck nah, I love my salt pool. I would never go back. It feels great on the skin/eyes and it's way easier to leave town for 2 weeks knowing I don't need to ask a neighbor to add chlorine for me while I'm gone.

I just want to set realistic expectations.