Hi disp160,
Plushbeds makes some high quality and better value latex mattresses but their selection is more limited than other online manufacturers and for many of the members here their value wouldn’t be in the “best value” range compared to some of the other online options that are available. A forum search on plushbeds will bring up more information about them.
Even mattresses that use high quality materials though may not have the best layering for the needs and preferences of a particular person but this is more about the suitability of the choice than the quality or value of a mattress.
Firm but plush can mean many things but in general it means (or should mean) a comfort layer that has the right softness and thickness to relieve pressure and firm enough in the support layers to keep the body in alignment. It sounds to me like your pressure relief is OK.
Even the lowest quality materials can be used to make a mattress that is very comfortable but the problem is tht the comfort, support, and “feel” that were the initial attraction in a showroom will be lost much more quickly. the major brands have been “de-specing” (using lower quality materials) their mattresses for many years and using lower quality materials to achieve similar “feels” and increase their profit margins. I wouldn’t consider any of them because even their mattresses that do use higher quality materials have poor value compared to smaller local independent manufacturers and better sleep shops that sell alternative or local brands. The plushbeds mattress uses far higher quality materials and has better value than the mattresses you are looking at even though the particular combination of layers isn’t the most suitable choice for you. Some of the manufacturing members of the site that sell online and in many cases have choices that can customize a mattress closer to your needs and preferences and have some of the best quality and value in the country are in post #21 here.
A less “risky” option than an online purchase would be to go to local factory direct manufacturers or better sleep shops in your area which will also have better quality and value and the skills and knowledge to “fit” you to the mattress that best meets your needs and preferences. Some of the better options within reasonable driving distance of Danbury are listed in post #2 here. A search on connecticut (you can just click on this) will also bring up more threads with information and feedback about some of them.
Just like buying a piece of furniture that uses cheap particle board covered with veneer compared to a similar piece that uses higher quality MDF or real wood … there is no way to know the quality of a mattress unless the manufacturer or retail outlet can tell you the detailed specs of the materials in their mattresses … particularly the density of any polyfoam and memory foam used in the comfort layers which are the weak link of a mattress and the first to soften and degrade. The major manufacturers won’t do this (dand do many other things that makes comparing mattresses difficult to impossible) because the lower quality and value of their mattresses would quickly become obvious. There is a list of guidelines here which will help you avoid the lower quality and value choices and focus on better quality and value choices. The first of these guidelines is to avoid all major brands.
It sounds to me like you need a firmer support layer than was in your mattress (to prevent the heavier areas from sinking in as much) and possible a firmer comfort layer as well. I’m not sure but Plushbeds may be able to exchange what you have for firmer layers and if not then at least they have a refund policy.
I would be very concerned as well about the quality and durability of the materials personally I wouldn’t even consider them. The “non specific” answer to your 10 year question is “maybe” for some people but “probably not” for most and it would be risky. You would also be buying a much lower quality/value mattress than many other choices you have.
The more specific answer depends on the person and the many other interacting factors that are involved in the durability and the loss of comfort and support of a mattress. Post #2 here includes more information about the factors involved in mattress durability and post #326 and 329 in this thread (they’re both long) have lots more information about the risks of a pillowtop mattress that uses either lower density or an undisclosed quality of foam.
Hope this helps.
Phoenix