michelle... apologies, didn't read who wrote the message properly
kexkez: the response you got from the carpet shop guy is the same answer the sales people where i work at say also.
his response to spongy underlay is total and utter crap!
when he says he was an ex-carpet layer, keep in mind that he could be bullshitting you, and that i've known people who have tried to carpet lay, failed... and then claimed to be carpet layers... you really dont know if he's telling you the truth, or if he was actually any good in the first place. who knows, he could be...
in regards to what carpet you choose, that's up to you, try to stay above the mid-range carpets, feltex is usually a pretty safe brand to go for, do keep in mind that godfrey hirst now own feltex.
the only problem i have with what you've said is the power stretcher side of things... what you need to do is find out if a stretcher is something your carpet layer 'uses' NOT, something they 'can' use if you request it.
because even if they do use it, doesn't mean they know 'how' to use it! very important difference!
cos more than likely, your "ex-carpet layer" guy, will have one sitting in storage at his shop that layers can use, if it was ever needed etc... and your layer will probably borrow it, just to keep the pain in the arse customer happy (that being you).
good luck with it.