FIELD REPORT: it really wasn't that bad. pills for the win - if your doc gives you the jug ("GoLytely"), tell them you want to pay for the pills option (bisacodyl) out of pocket. based on what i've read, it's very much worth it. you still need to drink a powder (which contains the same thing as the jug, but minus the awful tasting electrolytes) mixed with gatorade, but it just tastes like gatorade. the cleansing was fine - nothing explosive, nothing out of control, just the need to sit on the pot about a dozen times. the toughest part was being hungry - i ate nothing between dinner wednesday night and noon friday. soda, juice and low-sodium chicken broth weren't cutting it. jules, i appreciate the sympathy-cleans.
the procedure itself was a breeze - and trippy: i got to experience both teleportation and time travel! one second i'm in the procedure room being hooked up to monitors and being asked to roll on to my left side; the next moment i woke up in the recovery room. it was instantaneous, like thanos snapped his fingers. woke up a bit droozy, grabbed some food on the way home (carnitas @ chipotle, t'was divine), had a nap once i got home, and then back to the routine.
TL;DR: it was NBD. insist on the pills. do not put it off.