Acidrain, I agree with you 100%. ESPECIALLY after having used my TC kettle for a few months now. There are simply so many more options for weldless fittings and those options are much cheaper, too. Removing hoses with Quick Disconnects is also FAR easier than removing TCs.
However, I had the opportunity to buy a SUPER high quality 15 gallon kettle that came with a very heavy duty stainless FB, 2 TC ferrules welded in, a TC thermowell and thermometer, and a TC ball valve for a song and without shipping or taxes so I really couldn't say no. It has an air-tight seal so adding a large TC fitting to the lid means that the vessel can be used for brewing OR distilling by adding a distillation column to the TC fitting in the lid. I saw so many opportunities there I had to pull the trigger but now I'm dealing with the consequences: extremely limited dip tube and whirlpool options. Without a dip tube separation of hops and trub is also a problem.
Despite these disadvantages TC fittings do generally mean it's easier to clean and you have less long-term maintenance issues (no replacing teflon tape on threads that gets gnarly; no need to tear down the weldless fittings and get the crud out in between the fitting and the inside wall, etc...).
BUT, of course such discussions are irrelevant to people who already own kettles with TC fittings and who are just looking for solutions for what they already own...
Adam