Hi Ripjack13 -- Thanks for your question. When going back this far in the Sealy line, determining which is the most comparable mattress available today is more art than science. Here are the realities:

• There is nothing in today's Sealy line that is exactly like what you had.
• When comparing specs over time, be aware that features that start out as premium features when they are first introduced to the market eventually become standard features and over a period of several product cycles (e.g., 6-8 years) might even make their way all the way down to entry level models.

In light of those realities, as well as some other facts we can bring to bear in this case, here are a few things to consider, both in support of your argument and against it.

Arguments supporting your case:

• According to our records, the Sealy South Court Plush was in their Posturepedic line. The Posturepedic line was definitely not the entry level for all of Sealy's products at that time. The entry level models at that time were under the "Sealy Brand" product line, above which the Posturepedic line began. Today's entry level, as you pointed out, is Sealy Essentials, above which is the Performance Series.
• I think the South Court was in the Reserve Series, which was the middle level of Posturepedic options at that time (Preferred, Reserve, Signature).
• Price points for the current Response (innerspring) Essentials line generally run from $299-$699 for a queen set, while price points for the Response Performance line tend to be concentrated more in the $699-$1099 range. So, the price you paid of $700 for a queen (esp when adjusted for inflation to, say, $750) falls just above where the Essentials line tends to top out and more at the beginning of the Performance line.

Arguments supporting Sealy's case:

• Within each line, the range of prices will depend in part on how much cushioning it has. As such, the beginning price point of a line is usually a firm tight top model, and a plush pillow-top model like the one you have tends to be at least 20% more. As such, the price of a plush pillow top in the Essentials line (basically the top of the line Essentials model) is likely to be a little closer in price to what you paid than the least expensive plush pillow top in the Performance line.
• This mattress was made before Sealy began offering pocketed coils in its mattresses. As such, your mattress features a connected coil support unit. The type of coil system is certainly one of the defining characteristics of an innerspring mattress, and the coils in your mattress tend to more closely resemble what is offered in the Response Essentials collection today.

I'm sorry I can't provide a more definitive answer in this case, but I hope this information is helpful to you nonetheless. Good luck!!