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When fishing for trout is it really better to use live shrimp? The live shrimp tend to be small and for the same price I can get much bigger dead shrimp at a seafood place. I’ve never been convinced that live shrimp work better.

My next question is would rock shrimp work for trout? When they are available they are usually cheap and they might attract fewer pinfish. I think I’ll give them a try next time I go fishing.

I would have to say yes, fresh rock shrimp would would work. I've never used them, but I have used SWA and DOA jigs with markings to make them look like a rock shrimp....and they seemed to work as well as the others....depending on the day.
I have mixed feelings on wether live or dead shrimp work better. I've had almost equal results from both. I do seem to catch more catfish on dead shrimp than live.
But, I do agree that BIGGER shrimp equals bigger fish.......that's also true with lures.

Just to add an opinion...
I don't have much use for shrimp until the winter, and even then I rarely use them. Pinfish tearing up shrimp is a pain more importantly shrimp cost money. They certainly aren't any better than live baitfish which are free, and fun to catch.
All that said, if you're thinking about rock vs commercial (white- pink-brown) shrimp I can't imagine it matters much. If you have a live shrimp jumping around looking like what they already eat, that matters.

I am hoping that the rock shrimp would cut down on the pinfish problems and they are cheap. I prefer using baitfish also but I’m going to try the rock shrimp.

Not sure if it would cut down on the pinfish...I can see a herd of pinfish encircling the the armor plated shrimp and saying, "on the count of three, jump him."

New term I read about last night...S.O.B.

Shrimp On the Bottom

In my opinion, it probably doesn't matter. I'm convinced trout will eat anyting you throw out there when they're feeding.