Quite sure they make a breakaway part so if the torch falls, it'll definitely break there rather than somewhere less desirable like below the valve where it would start spraying gas everywhere at high pressure. Thanks for the detailed comparison. I too appreciate how nice a torch sounds haha.
I'm glad I'm not alone fussing about the torch sound. Re breakaway - but they do so for TS8000/4000 as well, those can't really break at the valve. For this torch, the tube is really heavy duty. I don't see how it could break unless you drop it from very large height, at which point there are so many things that can go wrong.
I believe the bernzomatic has that grooved area to put a split ringer tube that's cut in there to control how much or little air mixes with the gas coming out