I agree with you on the pillow…I hate marshmallow-soft ones….it needs to be firm an just soft enough to kind of mould to accommodate your head and neck. I also like a reasonably firm mattress.
If a bed us up against the wall I often sleep on the wall side. When I was a kid I would even sometimes have a foot or hand out of the blankets and resting up against the wall especially on a hot night.
Thanks for sharing your sleep scenario.