Dave, sorry, I wasn't trying to poke fun and it is a very interesting topic.
It used to be that some companies advertised the one piece bell as a selling point, as if it was superior in construction and design to the two piece bell.
The problem with that idea is that there are some fantastic trumpets out there that utilize the two piece bell. I know that Eclipse uses two piece bells, and I believe that at least some of Roy Lawler's trumpet have two piece bells as well. The instruments from both of those makers are highly regarded.
On the other side of the spectrum are the one piece, seamless bells on Schilke trumpets. Personally, I think that Schilke trumpets are somewhat unsung and under-rated, but I don't really think that it has to do with the bell construction so much as it does the bell shape and the way the rest of the horn is put together.
Unfortunately, anything I can offer on the subject is pure conjecture, because I don't really know one way or the other!
