Hi D99,
Post #2 here includes some of the better options in the NYC area and post #7 here has some more detailed descriptions of many of them that may help you sort through the list a little better.
Most mattresses are a combination of both firm and soft to differing degrees with the “firm” part being primarily responsible for good support and alignment and the “softer” part being primarily responsible for pressure relief. With just “firm” materials a mattress would be unsleepable for most people so its the type and amount of both that creates the combination of comfort and support that meets the needs and preferences of different people. In other words … “firm” is really only half a description of a mattress because firm means one thing in the support layers (relative firmness that is suitable for supporting weight) and something else completely in the comfort layers of a mattress (less or more softness that is suitable for relieving pressure) and all mattresses have some degree of softness in the upper layers. There are many different types and combinations of layers and materials that lead to the same “end goal” of a mattress that “fits” your needs and preferences in terms of PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment and Personal preferences).
One of the goals of the site is not so much to rule out any options but for people to recognize that certain options have poor value based on the materials that are in them and to understand the importance of knowing the quality of the materials in a mattress. Without this … there is really no way to know the durability of your mattress or how long the comfort and support that you experienced in a showroom will last. You’ve probably already read this but if you feel that the ingredients that are listed in the earlier post #2 of this thread (and Sleepy’s has since taken the layer information off their site) are worth the price for the size you are buying then at least you are making a more informed decision that is based on your own personal “value equation”.
While there are much higher quality and value options available in the NYC list, they also need to meet your needs and preferences no matter what the quality of materials.
Phoenix