Hi dastur,
In general terms I would certainly agree with this and plush pillowtops that use lower quality materials are one of the biggest “issues” in the industry IMO.
If you are comparing a latex support core to an air bladder support core I would choose latex because it is more adaptable and has better progressive support than air but it would still depend on choosing the most suitable firmness level and the most suitable comfort layers on top of it. In your case though it may be worth trying a latex transition layer in between your current comfort layers and the air bladder to test and see if it works better for you than the pillowtop layer you have removed with the air bladder at its firmest level underneath before you go to the greater expense of replacing the support core or buying a new mattress completely.
Since you also have access to your comfort layers it may also be worth buying a 1" layer of polyfoam so you can experiment relatively inexpensively with different custom zoning options under your comfort layers (see post #11 here).
More specific than this would really depend on the more detailed specifics of a mattress and on how well it matches you in terms of PPP. It’s not possible to predict this based on “theory at a distance” except in very generic terms and it can involve some trial and error to find the best combination of materials with more challenging body types.
The picture you linked was a comparison between two different types of support base under the mattress and which one was more suitable would depend on the specifics and the thickness of the mattress that was on it and again which one was the best match for you. You can read more about the different types of foundations and how they “match” different types of mattresses in post #2 here and the two links in the second paragraph. If they both provided equally good alignment then it would be a matter of preference between them.
With thinner mattresses a flexible foundation (or a box spring) can add some “give” under the mattress which can be helpful with both alignment and pressure relief. Some flexible foundations can also be adjusted for different firmness levels under different parts of the body to create a softer zone under the shoulder area or a firmer zone under the pelvis which can also be useful both for pressure relief and for alignment. With thicker mattresses though the flexible slats or adjustable zones may have much less effect through the thicker mattress.
The most common approach is to design the PPP into the mattress itself with various support, transition, and comfort layers and then to use a firm non flexing foundation under the mattress.
Phoenix