Very good points! I don't think I have a water table to worry about, since the pool sits on a hill (does that make sense? it does in my mind..which doesn't mean it's right by any means)

As for padding the slopes, we are going to see how nicely the cement lays down--and then decide. Spent the $30 on two pool trowels, although I felt a little silly doing it, they are just regular trowels with a rounded end.