"I'm actually scheduled to do my windows in a couple of months, and your story has me even more excited (and less anxious) about it."
Glad to hear you're feeling better about it. Honestly, window upgrades are one of those things people stress over way more than they need to. I've done installs all over Florida, and the difference in comfort and savings is always worth the initial hassle. Just make sure you double-check the sealing around the frames—humidity here doesn't mess around. Sounds like you're on the right track though...good luck with it.
I remember when we swapped ours out a couple years back—honestly, I was dreading it. Thought it'd be a huge mess, but it turned out way smoother than expected. The installers were in and out pretty quick, and the difference afterward was night and day. Before, our AC was running nonstop, and you could practically feel the humidity creeping in around the old frames. After the upgrade, the house felt cooler almost immediately, and our electric bill dropped noticeably.
One thing I'd recommend is paying attention to the glass coatings. We went with low-E glass, and it made a huge difference in blocking out the heat without making the rooms feel dark or gloomy. Also, don't skimp on the caulking—seriously, Florida humidity finds every tiny gap. Learned that one the hard way when we had to redo a window after a particularly rainy summer.
Anyway, sounds like you're already feeling good about it, so that's half the battle right there. Just think of it as giving your AC a well-deserved break...and your wallet too.