Hi photocat,
I’m glad you were able to get out and try some mattresses. As you discovered, there is replacement for careful personal testing of an item.
You’re certainly considering a mattress that uses higher quality componentry and there would be no “weak links” in a mattress like this. Savvy Rest mattresses contain high quality componentry, but as you mentioned they are in a higher price range. If you want to consider an all-latex mattress, you may wish to look online and use the experience and expertise of the members listed in post #21 here who are all very experienced and knowledgeable and specialize in providing the type of help and guidance on the phone that can help you make good choices and compare to the Savvy Rest you liked in-store. There are a wide range of latex options included in the choices there and I believe that all of them compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency, and they offer pricing that can be in a more affordable range than the Savvy Rest products.
I know you’ve ben following this thread already, but there is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here that I posted earlier. Talalay latex is the most breathable foam, and the covering you sampled containing wool is very good at being more neutral for temperature. Also, the combination you like is a bit of a “firmer” configuration, and you’d be “on” the mattress more than “in” it, which would help minimize the insulating effects of any foam. Of course, as you mentioned, there is no standardized testing for temperature regulation with different combinations of materials, and it is a very subjective experience.
Phoenix