Hi h-man93.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum! 
Note: I’ve moved your post to a different more relevant topic so as to keep the discussion in progress separate from the previous…
[quote] I’m currently looking to replace an old innerspring mattress, but am having a hard time deciding whether to take the plunge and get a foam mattress (either memory or latex) or just dip my toes in the water with a foam hybrid to keep that innerspring feel…
And since I’m in the Richmond, VA area, I was thinking of going to check out Richmond Bedding and talking to them[/quote]
Just in case you haven’t read it yet … the first place I would start your research is the tutorial post here which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and know how to avoid the worst ones. I would also keep in mind that your mattress choice depends entirely on your own personal value equation and on all the variables, tradeoffs, and personal criteria that are most important to each person.
In your case, as you are not sure about the mattress type that you best like, the first step would be to choose a manufacturer or outlet where you can do some local testing rather than a specific mattress. I am glad you were thinking to visit Richmond Bedding (our newest trusted member) as Tim is someone that “knows his stuff” and can advise you on which of the specific mattresses types may work best for you or at least he can act as a reference point … then whether you decide to buy locally or online the choice of a mattress becomes much more informed. This will certainly save you a great deal of time… connecting with the experts who already know the specs and information that you would otherwise have to learn is much more effective than “becoming” an expert yourself or focusing on more technical details that can become overwhelming. With good help and guidance … your body and your “helper” will tell you which mattress is best for you
If you like the feel of memory foam … especially if your in-laws will use it is important to have more stringent durability considerations than for average weight ranges… and the density of the memory foam and the specific type of memory foam becomes important. With weights over 200 lbs … memory foam under 5 lbs won’t hold up nearly as long as higher density/quality memory foam. In addition to this … the different types of memory foam (more or less breathable, more or less responsive, more or less temperature sensitive etc) and the different layering patterns in the mattress (how thick is the memory foam, what type of support system is under it etc) becomes a major part of how suitable any particular memory foam mattress may be for you.
“Specs” about each person’s body type and sleeping position are an important part of how each person interacts with a mattress but there are many other variables as well. There are many different types of layering combinations that can perform equally well for people of a certain height and weight and sleeping style so the most “accurate” way to “fit” a mattress to each person is to work with a knowledgeable local person who has the experience and knowledge to help you make the most suitable choices in “real time” and in person. There are some general weight and height guidelines here and some general guidelines about sleeping positions here and some information about how different types of layering can change and affect these guidelines in this section of the site but these are general guidelines and starting points only and will do more to help you understand the general lanscape of mattress shopping more than they can be used to design or recommend a specific mattress based on what I call “theory at a distance”.
As far as the “throwing the wrench in the works” goes, I’d say that you’ve got quite a bit on your hands as it is and I’d suggest that you focus on a mattress that has the best chances to be suitable for the primary sleeper(s) and only later in the process introduce more variables and considerations :?:
I look forward to any updates or findings you might have from your visit to Richmond Bedding.
Phoenix