Hmm. Good question. Year 1, it's def easier to close. Eg. Measuring and Drilling 42 anchors in my case was more work than draining equip and blowing out lines. Year 2 in our case I think its actually a bit easier to do dome. In each case, we did hire extra labor in. But the labor for reinstall was only 2 hrs and 3/4 of that was waiting for initial re inflation - the two techs wanted to see it inflated and I'd already told their boss I'd keep em a 2 hr min to make it worth booking.
The cost for my specific dome fabrication originally was $3,000 plus $500 shipping, 3 yr warranty. The air blower was $1000 and the air warmer another $1,000. All-in infrastructure $5500. Lifespan tbd.
So, a winter pool cover purchased direct (not thru a dealer) should be cheaper and theoretically last longer.
Heating cost will far exceed cost of opening and closing even if pool tech closings are running upward of $400 in some areas. BUT you get to swim
I guess IF you close and open clean, have a cyclone, know your equipment, and have a lightweight cover, closing and opening is still easier and ultimately a good deal cheaper due to heating cost.
But if you like swimming, have help, needed a new cover anyway, and especially if you're in a climate where you don't really have to manage much snow, then you'd be a candidate for a dome -- depending on your tolerance for heating bills
The owner of the co. told me last year that many owners don't run the dome in Jan-Feb due to heat cost, that they let it sink and act as cover and just keep water flowing and temp above freezing. I'm not sure how well that would work in practice in Mich as I feel the vinyl would be more prone to damage or sinking, but it was a moot point in my case because I knew if I was going to buy it, I was committing to using it throughout.
