How about the valve 14" above the pump intake?

[iom]

Every picture shows: skimmer+spa line coming to a Jandy-like valve and into the pump intake. The valve is always at the same level as the pump intake. Most of the pictures shows v.short distances between the valve and the pump - against the pump manufacturers and against teachings of science of hydrodynamics. The goal is to deliver non-turbulent flow - ergo the longer the line the better. For the same reason chlorinators and other venturi like feeders require usually 12" of line for flow calming.
How about having the valve sufficiently above the pump intake so e.g. 2 long sweep 90 degrees elbows can bring the flow down to the pump. This would allow space saving in front of the pump plus would add the syphon action that should be helping the pump. Ordinarily a syphon is self-maintaining flow. In addition it would stop the water from flowing back to the pool through the skimmer line when the lid is openned. All this should be good? Would it? Any comments are welcomed.

 

[JasonLion]

You can do that if you want, but it won't really help anything and adds complexity. It won't work as a syphon (because the net change in elevation is the same either way) and the amount of back flow prevention will be minimal. It will also make the pump more difficult to prime (because the pump has to lift the water higher right at first when priming).

Ideally there should be a fair bit of straight pipe in front of the pipe before it gets to the three way valve. People often skimp on that because they like things compact and it really doesn't make that large of a difference.