melissav79,
#1--Depends on the look you like. White plaster holds up well. Diamond brite is a little harder surface and you can get various colors. Quartz is also a nice finish and it might be a little less than the diamond brite.
#2-- No. IMO as a pb
#3--Kind of depends on your electric cost. In CA you have to install a 2-speed or variable speed pump if it's more than 1hp for pool circulation. Rates are also high, over .40/KWH in my area. Variable speed pumps pencil out well with our high rates and allow customers a lot of flexibility. Pentair has a calculator on their website so you can plug in your electric cost and hp size. Good luck.

Thanks so much for the candid feedback! The PB we are considering also said the same thing. I was just afraid of "stripping down" the pool and then being disappointed in the results, but if isn't worth the cost then it gives me some peace of mind.

I will have to check on the electricity calculation. Our electricity runs between 0.087 and .011 per kwh so its pretty cheap and I would guess it would take a while to break even for the additional cost of the VS pump.

We went with Quartzscape and it is totally worth the extra money !
LED's are great but you can buy LED bulbs that fit regular housings and its a cheaper upgrade.
On the VS pump, I'd say definitely spend the money, depending on length of season it can save you alot of money over just even the first year !
You are looking at about $18 - 22 per month at $0.10 per kwh and about $ 75 - 85 per month at $0.10 per kwh on a single speed pump... The extra 500-600 dollars you spend extra on the VS pump are easily recouped in one year !
Good Luck !

How much will you use the light? Will you leave it on a lot? Personally I prefer LED. And 12V. Over time it will pay for itself in electric bills if you use them a lot. And they will most likely last many times longer than an incandescent bulb.

VS pump is a no brainer also. Save money and tailor your run times and flow rate. Again, over time you will make the $ back.

It takes a long time to recover the money invested for LED lights. If they are color changing LEDS, I urge people to get them because they are so darn fun! It has a side benefit of saving on electricity and lasting longer. A typical 500w light will last about 5,000 hours vs. almost 30,000 hours for an LED.

On the plaster, there are choices besides Diamond Brite that are less expensive. Quartzscapes is a less expensive product, but be aware that it is mixed on site and not premixed. That can cause more spottiness when applied. A well cared for White Marble plaster pool can last many years... 10 - 15 ... if you keep the pH & alkalinity correct and brush your pool.

The variable speed pumps are ABSOLUTELY worth it!

On the pump - it may be worth looking into a 2 speed pump. This will give you substantial cost savings over a single speed but is far less expensive than a variable speed pump. Since you said that you are looking at a modest pool with no special features to speak of, this may provide the best compromise.

On the LED lights - I love mine. They create a fantastic ambience at night. As to whether they're worth it... We bought them purely for the aesthetics and don't regret it. We plan on spending a lot of time outside, especially at night so it was money well spent for us.