This is just my personal opinion, but if you want the most strength out of your Longfield, i would ask for the ringed version and have him treat your stockers.

I haven't visited Pirate lately to hear the latest, but it's my opinion that Long and others might be using cheap birf knockoffs and then treating them. Obviously they are still better than stock, but I would treat factory stockers and have the ring installed. The stock birfs have bigger cages and the ring addresses the concern of the thin bell wall.

I personally suspect that Long and A/P went with the cheaper birf knock off to be able to sell the things at a cheaper price. I think they don't weld the ring on, because the knock offs have a thicker bell (but smaller cage), and it saves them a ton of time and money. They claim a better turning radius also, although I don't notice any problem with my turning radius and ringed Longs.

Again just my opinion. I would check with others to hear what the lastest is with the Longfields.