But you can buy a large box of generic and very cheap no-bullshit pods at Costco, and simply put two or even three of them in a load.
If you're going the multi-pod route, you can put one in the dispenser and one or more right in with the dishes.
powder deploys during rinse and wash. pods deploy only during wash (or only rinse if people put the pods into the tray, which is common)
And the dishwashers are designed with a hardness index in the hopper . you're supposed to line up the soap with your local hardness level to avoid residue.
I'm not sure if my machine even has a hardness marking, but when I used liquid dishwasher soap, I simply filled up the compartment every time.
As to the cost, yes it's 3X, but if you're reading this and you have a Costco membership, it's still a rounding error.
Pods just make life simpler and cleaner (no messy powders and gunky liquids in the soap cabinet), which is why I even have a dishwasher in the first place.
I find pods messy (they can stick together and break open) and powder simpler. Powder I store in a glass container and pour directly from that; never have to touch it directly. Occasionally I’ll have to push a bit of lose powder into the sink during transfer from box to container.
Powder is cheaper. Sure I save pennies per load but I don’t know why I would waste pennies.
Pods are overdosed for my washer and water and leave residue. I don’t want to use more of them. Powder lets me dose a load with much more precision anyway.