So what is the piece of mind with salt that you get from paying double price. Every manufacturer has had bad batches and I dont think IO had any more or less. In fact I've had none for 20 years. Maybe I got lucky. If its not batches, the what other benefits have you noticed?Why spend double the money for a heater? Piece of mind that's why.
Your low usage gives you a niche view and I can see your perspective could be different. I buy 200 or more gallons of salt per month. If I'm paying double the price, It better come with sea monkey eggs that hatch or auto clean the glass tank for me.I only use one bucket of salt a year. Honestly if you add it up i pay more for frozen mysis than my blue bucket of red sea salt.