DE vs Cartridge Pool Filter

I have an ancient DE pool filter. I suppose it is in the neighborhood of fifty years old. The tank is stainless steel. Well there are no signs of leakage in the tank. I replace the gasket between the top and bottom of the tank from time to time. A pool guy says this is a ticking time bomb. It looks pretty crusty on the outside but quite clean on the inslde. Anyway my pool man says cartridge filters are better than DE. What are the pros and cons of each including filtration fineness and the initial price and the price of consumables?
My pump is only about seven years old. Pump and filter work fine now.

 

I know it seems the drought is over, but cartridge is the way to go in CA because it doesn't waste water backwashing. I'm not sure new non-cartridge filters are even permitted where I live; everyone has cartridge.

Also, I personally would never use a messy filter medium like DE or sand.

I recommend getting the biggest cartridge filter you can afford. I have the monster Pentair Clean & Clear Plus 520 on my 36,000 gallon pool and I only have to clean the cartridges once a year.

 

I switched from cartridge to DE over 20 years ago. It's getting changed back only over my dead body. I'm a little surprised a pool guy would say cartridge is better than DE; I would have to ask, on what basis? And what about your unit is a "ticking time bomb"?