Hi DebbieK,
A lot of things have changed in 20 years as you probably know 
At that time … mattresses that used better quality materials … and that were two sided … were a little easier to find. The “mattress world” was a little different place.
You’re right that State College is in somewhat of a mattress desert but you do have some better options if you’re willing to make a few phone calls and then possibly do a bit of traveling. In the end … finding a better outlet that either makes or sells better quality and value mattresses will not only save you money for equivalent quality but it will save you the time and frustration of having to sort through all the “stories” and never really knowing what to believe or which stories have any truth in them.
The closest factory direct manufacturers to you are in post #2 here. While there are some very good choices in the list … I would also call them first to get a sense of who they are and how helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable they are and how well you “connect” with them before deciding on which if any would be worth a trip. A few phone calls will give you a much clearer sense of what they offer both in products and service.
I’ve also updated the information in the linked post to include some of the better “candidates” in State College that may be worth “interviewing” along the lines of this article before you decide to visit them.
If you have questions along the way … feel free to post them.
Phoenix