Seems to me that if you use this sort of bar, you DO have a shower, even if it doesn't have watertight walls and a curtain...

I think it will seem unfinished, maybe a little odd to the casual observer.

Hummm, I don't know. The way the saleslady talked it was "the only way to go". In fact, I think she actually said that. I'll call another plumbing showroom.
Thanks,
Monica

Many people are going with this bar arrangement, but only if they plan to use the tub for showering, too. The wall union (where the hose connects to the wall) is mounted high enough on the wall (usually somewhere between 42"-60" above the floor) so that the hose won't dangle into the water, even when the showerhead is at its lowest position at the bottom of the bar.

If however, you're not going to use the tub for showering and won't have a shower curtain or doors, you don't want to go this route. Choose a bath filler with a handheld sprayer that rests in a rack above the filler, has a pull-out feature, or fits in a wall-mounted bracket. There's no reason to put the bar in if you're not going to use the tub for stand-up showering.

If the saleswoman insists you want to go this way, after you've explained that you won't be showering in your tub, find a different salesperson. The saleswoman is pushing what she wants to sell, not what you need.

What if you still don't want doors or a curtain? Is there someway of making the whole room waterproof enough for an occasional shower in what is otherwise a bathtub? I figure that 90% of the time it would be in its lowest position and occasionally. 10% (or less - maybe 2%) of its use would be in the showering position.

The shower would aim into the tub, which is theoretically going to be in a deck - the floors and walls are planned to be tile.

I have to say that when I take a bath - I get water everywhere anyway - so is there really a difference (and I really do get the bathroom wet with just bathing - I sort of like to swim around in the bathtub if possible).