Hi jtgraf01,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround, we are happy to have you and thanks for your question. There is a lot to unpack here.
I hear your frustration! There is so much out there and after a while things start to look as much the same as they appear different. After that many hours of research it starts to feel like every brand is either hiding something or shouting marketing at you. The good news is that you are not crazy and you are not splitting hairs between junk and quality. You are comparing several legitimately solid hybrids that just approach comfort a little differently.
At 6’5 and 180 pounds as a strict side sleeper, your biggest needs are real shoulder pressure relief and enough underlying support so your hips do not sag and recreate the cavern effect you are experiencing on your old Beautyrest Recharge. Because you are not especially heavy, you do not need an ultra heavy duty build, but you do need quality comfort materials that will not take a set too quickly. Remember at you height, you likely have broad shoulders and as a side sleeper, careful selecting a pillow will be crucial once your mattress is selected. Additionally, selecting the right foundation can make or break your mattress selection. A poor foundation can be the demise of a good mattress faster than a good foundation will kill an average mattress.
Between the four you listed, I would say the Helix Sunset Luxe has a slight advantage compared to the Silk and Snow Hybrid Plush. The Helix will likely feel more luxuriously plush right out of the gate and has a more substantial comfort package, but softer foams also tend to be the first place impressions show up over time. At your weight it should hold up reasonably well, but you are paying more for feel refinement, and with the cost difference, it is hard to say if one is twice as good as the other. You really can’t look at if from that perspective, unless you were 100% fine with either, than, of course, one that is half the cost is the likely choice. Now if you were selecting the Helix Elite version, yes, it kicks the price up, but potentially, the only thing you will need to replace going forward is the comfort insert. The base bed should last quite a long time, so the value may be recognized more long term at the higher price point.
The WinkBeds Softer is a bit more conservative in its approach. It may not feel quite as marshmallow plush as the Helix, but it has a reputation for solid coil support and overall structural integrity. Winks are ok, but folks tend to write a lot of mixed reviews on the standard winks. The Wink Blue Series, Wink Blue Elite Plush available at independent authorized dealers such as @yawnder, might be more your speed, but it is above your price range.
The @Glacier GlacierSleep Apex sits in an interesting middle ground. To me it feels like a modern hybrid built in the spirit of how some of the larger S and Legacy brands used to build their mattresses when they were considered the premier purchase. It has more of that traditional cushioned over coils sensation rather than a deep memory foam sink. For someone who liked the general feel of older Beautyrest or Stearns and Foster models before they broke down, that type of construction can feel familiar and comfortable.
I would also add the @Winndom Mattress Winndom Azalea to your consideration if you have access stretch the budget just a tad after the TMU promo. It is a true pillow top hybrid and leans into that classic innerspring plus plush top design. For a tall, lighter weight side sleeper, that kind of build can provide excellent pressure relief without relying on overly thick, ultra soft foams that are more prone to early body impressions. If you are trying to recapture that traditional luxury hybrid feel without going back into the opaque big S brand world, it is worth a look.
Another category I would not discount is latex hybrids. Latex is one of the most durable comfort materials used in mattresses and it can absolutely be made in soft, plush comfort levels appropriate for side sleepers. Very soft Talalay latex can feel wonderfully pressure relieving and buoyant, although the very lowest ILD versions may not perform as long as some of the slightly firmer latex options. Even so, latex as a material generally outlasts conventional polyfoams. It also allows for better airflow because of the pin core holes throughout the foam, which helps with temperature regulation.
Along those lines, the @DLX Premier Hybrid is a very reasonable choice if you like the Beautyrest or Stearns and Foster type feel. One of its standout features is a zippered cover that allows you to swap out the comfort layer. They offer high density foam in three firmness levels, latex in four firmness levels, and even memory foam options by request. That kind of modular design takes some of the pressure off making the perfect choice on day one because you are not permanently locked into a single comfort layer.
At the end of the day, you are not choosing between a right answer and a wrong answer. You are choosing between slightly different ways to achieve plush comfort over a supportive coil system. Several of these could serve you well for 8 to 10 years at your weight. The bigger decision is whether you want the softest, most immediately plush feel, the most conservative durability play, or a more traditional pillow top hybrid that splits the difference.
Hopefully this helps you sort some things out.
Maverick