Bauer sizing issue - Supreme vs XR

[t0nnn 0]

This is a ice and inline skate question..Almost my entire time playing hockey (21 years) I've been in Bauer Supremes, In the past 10-12 years i've used Supreme 4000's (old ice skate converted to inline) and Supreme 8090's both size 8D. They flit like a glove, and are very comfortable, no pain or heel play at all.

I needed some new inlines and got a pair or Bauer xr4's size 8R. I didn't pay close attention to the fit at the pro shop (shame on me, I know), since i've always been a size 8. Got home, laced them up tight and noticed I have a little bit of heel play, I baked them, and skated on them the next night (2 days ago) for 2-1/2 hours, they felt good but I had some instep pain and some heel pain after.

After doing a lot of searching and reading on the forum last night, tried the pencil test and pretty sure I need to drop down to a 7.5. When feathering my toes in the toe cap I can fit a pencil down my heel with a tiny bit of play. I'm a little confused, because I thought the Supremes, compared to the Vapor line were a wider boot in the heel and foot.

I'm kind of in a shitty position, and feel bad returning the skates (again) because I already returned the xr4's a week prior. I bought them, and after closely looking at them at home there were a few threads coming out of the one boot near the toe cap, and the boot layering was starting to peel back. Not sure how the pro shop owner would feel about taking them back after being baked and used once, or if he even would.

Or do I try Superfeet or something else to try and give me better heel lock or am I just delaying the inevitable that I need to drop to a 7.5?