Sorry, a 1" change in ride height doesn't mean running out of travel does it?
My current "wrong" setup has a very unbalanced shock travel. 5.7" Up travel and 2.3" Down Travel. Imagine If I swap the springs and gain 1" more up travel.
I guess the best way to describe things would be: Springs can change ride quality, but only because they change the ride height so the shocks don't work at the same bias as before.
You would be untruthful to yourself if you consider that most people are aware of their shock up travel and down travel. I would assume, most of the owners run shocks just by the brand's suggestions. Many even, could run a combo springs/shocks that in case #1 springs would net a 1.5" lift, and case #2 springs would net a 3" lift. (depending on the weight of the TJ)
If we could test a theory running a 140lbs spring with exactly 2" lift, and a 150-160lbs spring with exactly 2" lift combined with the same shock which would be at near perfect 50/50 bias, I doubt any noticeable difference would happen. Let alone to make the rig ride like crap.
So, I would assume automatically, that any noticeable change (riding like crap, too much stiffer, etc) in ride quality over springs swap, would be due to change in ride height, so due to moving shocks closer to their limits (travel wise).
*I am also don't even talking about other things that might occur after changing the ride height (vibrations, etc.)