I hear ya. See, I don't have an in-line chlorinator. I am a Baquacil convert on a pool that was already installed when I bought my house. So my regular maintenance (confirmed through testing) includes pouring in a half gallon of LC each night.
That said, my father (also located in the Northeast) has an inline puck chlorinator and has had little trouble with it, provided he starts the season with low CYA. By the end of the season, his CYA is pretty elevated, but it will reduce by the next Spring because he does a partial drain before closing and periodic draining over the Fall and early Spring because of his mesh cover.
I don't think you are doing it wrong, so long as you understand that CYA does not dissipate with water evaporation. So keep your eye on it and understand you may need a water dump at somepoint.
That said, my father (also located in the Northeast) has an inline puck chlorinator and has had little trouble with it, provided he starts the season with low CYA. By the end of the season, his CYA is pretty elevated, but it will reduce by the next Spring because he does a partial drain before closing and periodic draining over the Fall and early Spring because of his mesh cover.
I don't think you are doing it wrong, so long as you understand that CYA does not dissipate with water evaporation. So keep your eye on it and understand you may need a water dump at somepoint.