I have a Merlin, and before that a Meyco. I wouldn't want to go back to a solid cover. For one thing, having to work with those water bags all around the sides of the solid cover to hold it in place got old after about 10 years or so. Then, the best part was when the solid cover ripped while trying to pull it off - so the 'swamp' that collected on top quickly dumped into the pool. The solid cover DID, as I recall, keep the water nicer than the mesh does, but with the (much) lighter weight of the Merlin, ease of folding it up into a fairly compact bundle to store during the summer, plus - the best part - attaching it to the deck with the anchors (can this even be done with a solid cover?), I'll keep using them for as long as I have the pool. It goes flat across the edges of the coping and so doesn't collect any debris or water. Nice, clean look too.