We bought a new bed about 2 years ago. We looked into several different types, including Tempurpedic and Select Comfort as well as many, many traditional beds. I did quite a bit of research prior to shopping. We (my husband and I) even slept on a Tempurpedic for a couple of nights (2 or 3) at a friend's house while they were out of town (they had had it for about a mos. or so before we tested it). Then we spent two days window shopping and in store testing before we finally bought our dream bed. Here is what we found, kind of lenghty, but I would have wanted to know all of this when I bought mine to save me time.
We did NOT like the Tempurpedic at all. After sleeping on it for several nights, we found the followign: My husband is hot natured and it held body heat next to his body (because of all of the memory foam) and he was constantly hot. Not only that, but after sleeping for a while (we are mostly side sleepers, but also some back and a little tummy), both of us found that it put our limbs "to sleep" (cut off blood flow) and in turn, woke us up mid-night. And even though it softened up after a while, every time you moved to a different position, it felt hard again and took a while to re-soften. Furthermore, the friends of ours that had the bed soon returned it not long after we after we slept on it for the same reasons we didn't like it at a money loss to them. The cost was garanteed, but there is re-stocking fees and other charges.
As for the Select comfort, we liked it ok, but I am an indesisive and "perfectionist" type person and could totally see myself messing with the sleep number until I drove myself crazy. Even in the store, I had a hard time finding true comfort even with the associate working the controls and me just going on feel alone. Maybe after finding that perfect comfort level, I would be ok for the most part, but we were looking at several life changes (pregnancies, possible joint surgeries, etc)that would more than likely keep changing our comfort level and quite honestly, I didn't want to keep messing with a bed.
We found our favorite bed at Mattress Giant (We also looked at several traditional furniture stores, Mattress Firm and Sleep Experts). It is a Kings Down King Size pillow-top mattress with extra side support (for when you sit on the edge of the mattress) and made right here in the good ole USA and still hand crafted. According to several sales associates at two different Mattress Giants, it is the only remaining bed handcrated in the USA. Even Sertas, Sterns & Fosters, and other name brands have sold out and are not crafted the way they used to be. We got on it and tested it several times in two different stores and it just always felt comfy - soft but supportive. It has a small amount of memory foam in it for comfort, but not enough to hold in heat. It was so supportive to our bodies that lying on our side, you didn't even need a pillow to be comfy. It was quite expensive to our budget, but not any more than the Tempurpedic or Select Comfort and the payment plan was awesome (no interest for a year or more maybe up to three if I remember right). Plus, we caught ours during a sale and it came with lots of freebies (3 free pillows, mattress pad, and extra sturdy frame since it is quite a heavy bed and free delivery). And we lucked out and found a floor model at a much discounted price because it had a slight scuff on the box spring when delivered to a previous customer's house and they rejected it while still in the plastic (they mostly sell out of the warehouse, but if you buy at Matress Giant (or other places too possibly), ask if any floor models are available at that or other stores or for any that were rejected by other customers at a lesser price - we just lucked into that part on our third visit because we didn't know to ask. All major warranties were still in tact too, even with the circumstances. And it has a 20 yr warranty compared to most beds that only have 10 or 15.
We are still very happy with our bed and we are very glad we got a King size too(that was a decission we had a hard time making too). It was well worth the price and has gotten me as comfortably as possible through 2 pregnancies. The only major drawbacks were, like said earlier, a little pricy (but it will last 20 yrs and you can't put a price on good sleep-it effects every aspect of your life: happiness, health and productivity), and it is very heavy (no biggie unless you plan on moving it). They deliver and set up for free, but we have moved once since then and will be moving again soon, this time to a bedroom on a second story and my husband will have fun getting the bed and box spring up there, I am sure. Other than that, we are totally happy and are loyal customer of Mattress Giant for accessories since then also (mattress pads, bed frames for other beds, etc).
Hope this info help and if you want, e-mail me with any other questions - I don't mind!
Best of Luck!
T.