DianeK- Maybe just to confuse you a little more: the latex topper does not have that "latex bed" type feel, I think for two reason- it is covered with a substantial layer of wool on one side/cotton on the other and the mattress itself is a spring mattress. While I did not try out the Flobeds latex kit beds, I did look at Englander latex beds and I, too, wasn't happy with the feel of a latex bed.
Here is something just to throw into the pile for consideration: if you were comfortable on the medium, get that and add a little cush with an additional cheap foam topper. Jeff is also looking into a soft topper made by a different company that supplies them to a lot of hospitals in Sweden that might be an alternative for people without fleshy cushioning (very thin, like in your case, or those with muscle atrophy due to arthritis, etc.). The reason why I am mentioning this is because we have been delving into this for my Mom, who has rheumatoid arthritis and has lost the "padding" around her hip joints. She is also quite thin (but not as thin as you are) and we were playing with my medium bed, which she loves but seems to need a bit more "cush." My parents are ordering the firm mattress and we will either use a cheap replaceable foam topper on top of the Carpe Diem one to add just that little extra bit of cushioning or, depending upon Jeff's assessment of this other topper, use that on my Mom's side rather than the Carpe Diem one. The extra cushioning on the medium made it feel a little too mushy, which is why they are opting for the firm but with a softer topping.
I think when you are looking at these beds, at least to me, it makes sense to look at the firmness and the cushioning a little separately. If you feel that your back support is good on the medium but it isn't cushy enough, then I would think leaning toward just adding a layer of cush would be ideal.
Since it is, of course, hard to "guess" what something might feel like, if you are still desperate enough to do any more travelling, in my opinion at least the Hastens beds gave a similar spring feel as far as firmness, which makes sense since they are using the same spring system. The Korno and Hastens Excelsior were similar in feel wrt spring feel; I just felt the Carpe Diem was cushier and gave that "ahhh" feeling; the Hastens isn't as plush a feel. However, if there is a Hastens dealer in an area that you'll be visiting that carries a soft, that might be a good test. Of course, travelling around shopping for a bed can get a little silly (my hubbie thought I was crazy insisting we drive from Long Island, NY to Conn.
) and the shipping are major factors for you. It depends upon how desperate you are (and after not sleeping for about 9 months I was getting to the "pretty desperate" stage).
