Hi cn1ght,
There is more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here that can help you compare mattresses. As you can see … which one is the best “match” for you in terms of PPP is the most important part of the value of a mattress and for this part you are the only one that can decide this because nobody else can feel what you feel on a mattress (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). If you aren’t confident with your choice then the return or exchange policies (and the other options you can exchange for) may become a more important factor in your choice.
Outside of testing each mattress for PPP though … I would confirm the specifics of all the layers in each mattress you are considering (see this article). This will help you make sure there are no weak links in any of the mattresses and knowing the specifics of all the materials (including the type and blend of any latex) will also help you make more meaningful comparisons with other mattresses. You are also welcome to list the layers on the forum (either top to bottom or bottom to top) and I’d be happy to make some comments about the quality of the materials as well.
They may also be different mattresses but it’s also not unusual that if you spend a great deal of time testing mattresses everything can begin to blur together. Most people have had the experience of testing mattresses say in the morning and then testing mattresses somewhere else and then going back to test the first mattresses again and they feel different from what you remember because your frame of reference has changed.
There would normally be “some” difference between a brand new mattress and a mattress that has broken in where the cover has stretched and lost any initial stiffness and the foam layers have lost any of their initial “false firmness” but it’s likely that all of the mattresses you tested were broken in from testing as well. You could always ask them how long it’s been on the floor.
A floor model is generally a “final purchase” and there would generally be no warranty as well so I would make sure you were comfortable with this because no matter what the cost or quality of a mattress… if you can’t sleep well on it and you have no options available to you to exchange or fine tune it then it would have little value to you. I would keep in mind that if a mattress is a little too firm then you can always add some additional softness with a topper but there are no effective ways to make a mattress that is too soft any firmer without removing or replacing layers.
My “best” suggestions outside of the comments here would be to follow all the steps in the tutorial post and use the testing guidelines to test mattresses as carefully as you can. I would also narrow down your choices at each store to one so you have a finalist at each one.
One you have a finalist at each store that you are confident is a suitable choice in terms of PPP and has no weak links in the materials … then you will be down to final choices (see post #2 here) between good and good and which of them would be best for you would depend on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
You also have some other good options besides Restonic in the area and I would also consider some of your other options besides just Restonic so you have a chance to test some different mattresses. The only way to know if one mattress is comparable for you in terms of PPP (it may not feel comparable to someone else because this is somewhat subjective) would be based on your own testing and knowing the materials inside them would help you compare them in terms of the materials and durability.
I would also make some preliminary phone calls to the stores you plan to visit to tell them about the types of mattresses you are interested in testing, to find out what types of mattresses they carry on their floor, and to get some sense of their knowledge and customer service as well.
Phoenix