Boy do I wish I had room for that sized pool. I was at the pool store a couple of months ago with the primary reason I have a pool in the first place (that would be a five year old girl) and she was asking if we could get this pool and that pool and most of them were in that 27 foot size (or bigger)......and it did look way inviting but we just don't have the room....Crud.
Realize you will be throwing Clorox in for your initial dose of Chlorine while you get the salt to dissolve. Pool calculator will tell you exactly how much CYA to put in be it liquid or dry. If you don't have CYA yet, you can get pails of it on the cheap from a number of places online.....find out how much you need first using the pool calculator.
And, realize that just because you have salt, your not done. When I had the salt thing, I had to top off my pool only after everyone had been in it on the weekends. Pretty much consistent levels when the pool wasn't used. If you had not picked that up off the site here yet, I though it would be noteworthy to mention it.
As far as equipment, I agree, better quality stuff is always nicer to work with and lasts far longer than cheap Crud. Last observation is that if you can keep a cover on your pool, it will make life far easier as far as keeping the bottom clean. With the pool covered except when used you may just need a stupid simple hose and basic floor attachment and vacuum to waste or if not to bad direct through the filter.....that is after you pick up as much as you can with that leaf rake...
Bob E.