Hi Lshpfrosty,
Post #2 here has more about the pros and cons of an all latex mattress vs a latex/polyfoam hybrid. The Total latex mattress also allows you to customize the support and comfort layers and allows for comfort exchanges as well whileif you need to make an adjustment to your comfort layer while the Ultimate Dreams latex allows you to choose the comfort layer but there are no exchange options after your purchase. The total latex also has wool in the cover which is a more temperature regulating material while the Ultimate Dreams is quilted with polyfoam.
There shouldn’t be much difference no and most people would be able to sleep on it right away.
This would depend on your weight to some degree but the polyfoam support core in the hybrid would be less durable and soften more than the latex support core in the Total latex mattress. How much this will make a difference would depend on how much you are sinking in to the layers under the comfort layer.
The “value” of a mattress purchase depends on the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including how well it matches your specific needs and preferences in terms of PPP).
While assessing the “commodity value” of a mattress isn’t really a useful measure of value since a mattress is more than the cost per inch of foam or the cost per pound of fabric (like buying a suit based on the cost per pound of fabric) … in most cases the mattresses made by the same manufacturer would have similar “commodity value” across their lineup with perhaps slightly higher margins in the higher budget ranges.
Reviews won’t tell you much if anything about how well a mattress will match your own unique needs and preferences in terms of PPP (see post #13 here) but any all latex mattress will be a very durable choice regardless of which manufacturer makes it. If you can’t test a mattress (or a very similar mattress) in person then the best source of guidance would be the retailer or manufacturer who will know more about their mattresses than anyone and will be the best source of guidance that can help you choose the options that you believe would be the best “match” for you (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
With your weight differences it may be worth considering a “split” construction where each side is customized for different body types or sleeping positions and are available in king sizes.
Phoenix