i personally own a vp-free. not only have i looked at the welds but i have riden it. it is a sick bike for everything except cross country. if you do downhilling and freeriding with mild cross country it is the bike for you. the vpp works very well too. it is a great value for what it does...
they have already recieved an abnoxious amount of snow and a geting a lot more. i live south of there and we didnt get nearly as much. all the schools are closed and they are being forced to take all the snow to sports fields.