And if the results from the pool store differ from yours... whose results will you believe?
I do not know anything about the method you're using but I do know that BBB works and it's not difficult in any way once you understand it. Adding a couple cups (for me, 4800 gallon pool) of bleach every day is quite doable. What you were told about chlorine above is true. When your pool water is balanced, there is little odor at all and what you might smell is NOT the same as what you have smelled in other pools. It's more like a fruity fresh smell, with a hint of something you will not recognize as chlorine. Even laundry washed w/bleach does not compare.
Chlorine KILLS the nasties that can make you sick. It disinfects your pool water. Disinfection should be your primary concern, algae murder and prevention second. Chlorine tackles both in your pool, and it is all the disinfection you need.
The multiple thousands of pool owners who have passed through this forum, joined and posted about their joy with BBB is testament alone. There is no way to know how many just read, learn, never join or post and maintain their pools with the same joy. I for one lurked all last summer after switching, and only began posting this year when I was comfortable that I understood a few things enough to be able to answer some questions.
If your pool store flips out when you discuss bleach with them, yet will readily sell you liquid chlorine or liquid "shock" product in the same breath it's an indication that they do not have your best interests in mind or didn't/couldn't/wouldn't pay attention in high school chemistry. Or they are flat out lying to you to be able to sell you products that you do not need.
Chlorine is chlorine... is chlorine. 6%, 10%, 12%, or even the infamous 20% that doesn't exist past initial production is all liquid chlorine with the same chemical makeup. The only difference is strength, and the fact that 6% bleach is available in any grocery store labled... "bleach" instead of "chlorine".