Peter, those pre-formed blocks with securing straps are okay used as intermediate supports only. You still need to sink the corners and central points of the beams into the ground. Otherwise your "floating" deck becomes a "sliding" deck and will pull apart. You still need to slightly sink and compact the soil under the free standers. They're about as much work as digging and pouring the regular footers. They do have the advantage of being easily removed should you decide you don't want the deck.

I use the big cardboard tubes and a heavy metal saddle. The advantages to the tubes are; a: you know EXACTLY how much concrete to mix, b:they are round so it is easy to dig the holes using a post hole digger (yeah, yeah, I know, I'm old fashioned) and, c: they aren't that hard to pull out of the ground.

"Building codes"? You sirrahs, are obviously not familiar with Arizona!

I mean, we build houses out of mud bricks, chicken wire (galvanized of course, we aren't in the dark ages) and stucco.