Does the Original Elite actually sleep cooler than the Original Pro?

Yes, noticeably, though not dramatically. Both have pocket springs that let air move through the middle of the mattress. The Elite adds graphite-infused foam, which conducts heat away from the body rather than holding it as ordinary memory foam does, and a cooling cover that feels cool to the touch when you first lie down. In our testing the Elite was the cooler of the two and the coolest Emma we have tried since the Luxe Cooling was discontinued. If overheating is your main problem and the budget stretches, the Elite is the one; if you run only slightly warm, the Pro is enough.