Hi reneegavin,
There are several references to Habitat that you can find with a forum search on “habitat” (without the quotes) but in essence they boil down to “good quality poor value” compared to manufacturers like SleepEZ or other manufacturing members of this site. The five members that currently specialize in shipping mattresses across the country are in post #21 here. (NOTE: there are now eight)
I would also not use a solid surface for a latex mattress and IMO this advice would result in a mattress that wouldn’t have good ventilation and increases the odds that you could have issues with “unwanted guests” such as mold, mildew, and would also reduce the ability of the mattress to breathe and provide a healthy and temperature regulating microclimate. They probably give this advice because they don’t sell a foundation. There are several inexpensive foundations available which would be much more suitable for a latex mattress than a sheet of plywood across innersprings or worse yet a frame which is meant to hold a foundation above the ground not to actually be part of one.
To give you a direct comparison … the SleepEz has many more options in terms of layering (and they are very good at recommending a suitable layering arrangement), and they give you the ability to choose between different types of latex rather than trying to tell you one is “better” than another (which it isn’t … it’s just different) because they (Habitat) don’t sell the other options. The SleepEz 9000 is their mattress that would be comparable to the 8" Habitat and is as good quality or better in every way yet it is $600 less. It also offers layer exchanges and more options both before and after the sale than habitat in case you don’t quite get it right.
The SleepEz 10,000 would be comparable to the Habitat 9" model and in queen would be over $800 less.
Manufacturers like Arizona Premium (also a member here) offers even greater savings at the “tradeoff” of less options to make adjustments after purchase than the SleepEz (and the same as Habitat).
So overall … Habitat makes some nice mattresses that are significantly higher priced than other options that use the same or better materials and have more options both before and after purchase.
One other option that may be worth considering is if there is a local manufacturer close to you then you may be able to get similar value but actually lie on the mattress first before purchase. If you let me know the city you live in I’d be happy to look and see if I know of any close by.
Hope this helps.
Phoenix