You are probably better off having the infloor water distribution valve at the equipment pad - especially if it's a ways from the pool and will be behind a wall. This will better protect it from any pool side mishaps (someone tripping on it, pool toys or anything else fallong on it). No reliability concerns.
Also, if you do decide on a debris canister, having it at the equipment may be better. If it ever needs to be replaced it won't require removing any decking to do it - unlike an in deck canister.
Who is the manufacturer of the proposed infloor system? If you aren't completely sold on the infloor - consider ditching it and buying a high quality robot (not thru the PB). Infloor installs are usually expensive. You can get a good robot for under $1000 and a robot doesn't require the pump to be running at a high RPM to clean (pump doesn't need to run at all). While I like my infloor, if I was building a pool today (instead of 20+ years ago) I would get a robot. Be aware that a robot will probably not clean a baja shelf so you will need to brush that to clean it.
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@cwstnsko, I prefer a deeper baja shelf. To me, 6" of water on the shelf is going to be too hot in the heat of our summers and it will barely cover my legs when I"m sitting on the shelf.