I get the hesitation, but I’ve actually had a different experience. We went with a water-powered backup last year (mostly because the battery ones looked like something out of a sci-fi movie and I got intimidated). It’s not perfect, but it did its job when our power went out—no indoor swimming pool, thank goodness. Yeah, it used a fair bit of water, but honestly, I’d rather pay for extra water than deal with a flooded basement. Maybe it depends on your area’s water rates or how often you lose power? I guess there’s no one-size-fits-all answer...
Weirdly enough, I actually went the battery route because I was worried about wasting water (our rates are brutal here). It’s a bit more maintenance, but I like knowing I’m not dumping gallons down the drain every time the power blips. That said, I totally get the intimidation factor—those battery backups look like mini spaceships.
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks go the battery route for exactly that reason—water bills can be nasty. The maintenance isn’t that bad once you get used to it. Those things do look wild at first, but after a while, you barely notice. Good call thinking ahead.